CAPTION: Solar Equipment sent to Fiji from the Barefoot College has been delivered to the villages in Macuata, Bua and Ra, Ba to solar electrify the villages. Photo: MINFO.
The Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation has confirmed that solar equipment for electrifying ten villages in the Western, Eastern and Northern divisions have been successfully delivered this week.
Minister Dr Jiko Luveni said all solar equipment have been sent across to the ten villages which would now accelerate work on solar electrifying the villages.
“The ministry is glad to confirm that all the solar equipment has been delivered to the solar engineers this week. After their return from the six months training from Barefoot College in India, the solar grannies have been eagerly waiting for this equipment,” Dr Luveni said.
“The waiting days are over, the villages that have lived without electricity for years are now ready to solar electrify and overcome the years of darkness. As part of their work plan, the solar grannies will also train the youths and men in the village on acquiring solar electrification skills.”
This equipment has been sent from Barefoot College and will be used to install solar electrification panels in Cakaudrove, Macuata, Bua, Kadavu, Ba and Ra.
For Western Division the solar equipment have been delivered to Dama Village in Ra and Waikubukubu village, Ba while equipment has been shipped to four villages in Kadavu namely Baidamudamu, Lawaki, Nabouwalu and Naioti village.
“Similarly for Northern Division the equipment has been sent across through Goundar Shipping today to four villages: Vunidogoloa in Cakaudrove, Lutukina and Nabouono village in Macuata and Nakorovou village in Bua province,” Dr Luveni said.
“The Ministry officials and UN Women are currently out in these villages, to oversee that equipment is safely delivered and any pending issues are ironed out.”
Mrs Baciseva Maramaivalu from Dama village, Nakoilava in Ra said she is delighted to get the solar equipment and the villagers have already started building their solar workshop.
“The villagers are extremely happy that the equipment is here and the village solar committee has already started constructing the workshop. From next week, solar electrification of houses will start and I am so grateful that the men in my village are all helping me out in setting the solar panels,” Mrs Maramaivalu added.
“There are 40 households and all these houses should be solar electrified in a month’s time. We will also be organising a workshop with the Ministry of Women, to train ten men, youths and five women in this village to get the skills of solar electrification. So at the end of next month, all the houses in Dama village with have access to solar lights.”
MINFO