Solomon Islands today pushed for a united approach to confront the ongoing energy crisis facing Least Developed Countries around the world.
Solomon Islands today pushed for a united approach to confront the ongoing energy crisis facing Least Developed Countries around the world.
Minister for Development Planning and Aid Coordination Connelly Sandakabatu told a high level meeting of LDC’s on Partnership for Sustainable Energy at the sidelines of the 68th UN General Assembly meeting in New York today that energy is the key for economic development.
Delivering the Solomon Islands Statement on Energy Minister Sandakabatu said renewable energy is the driver of the three dimensions of sustainable development, economic growth, social equality and environmental protection.
He shared the experience of Solomon Islands with participants highlighting the cost of fuel and electricity facing Solomon Islands in view of the huge potential for renewable energy development in the country.
Mr Sandakabatu pointed out that Solomon Islands like any other LCD has always spent a third of its national budget on importation of fossil fuel only to produce electricity for 20 per cent of the population.
This challenge, he said can be freed up if hydro, geothermal, wind or solar energy is unlocked.
More than 80 per cent of the Solomon Islands population is located in the rural areas.
He said the UN can become more competitive and reduce the costs of doing business in our countries if renewable energy becomes the center piece of our poverty reduction strategy.