The Asian Development Bank (ADB) joined the Government of Vanuatu and members of the Santo Community have announced commissioning of the Santo transmission line component of the ADB-supported Vanuatu Energy Access Project (VEAP).
“This latest milestone will bring Vanuatu closer to its target of 100% grid-based renewable electrification by 2030,” said ADB Senior Country Officer, Nancy Wells.
“This transformational project will help deliver clean, reliable, affordable electricity supply to previously unpowered areas,” said Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Energy, Environment, Meteorology and Geohazards and Disaster Management, Ralph Regenvanu. “As more households are connected, sustainable power will be delivered to residents and businesses on the island spurring economic activity.”
The 45 km of new transmission and distribution lines from Turtle Bay to Port Olry in Santo are part of the second project component completed under the VEAP. The first component included construction of the 400 kW Brenwe hydropower plant and around 40 km of transmission and distribution lines in Malekula.
The hydropower plant is fully operational and supplying renewable energy to communities in Malekula.
VEAP will implement additional low-voltage lines in Santo and in Malekula to connect more households in need of energy. The project will also provide business skills training in Santo and Malekula for newly connected households to help them utilize the available electricity for livelihood and income-generating activities.
The project has a total investment of around $22.3 million, with about $18 million financing from the Asian Development Bank, which includes $8.5 million funding from ADB’s Asian Development Fund (ADF).
