The Fijian Government has acknowledged it is behind schedule on its renewable energy ambitions and is moving to speed up the transition to solar and other clean sources, Public Works Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau said at a regional energy conference this week. Speaking at a Sustainable Energy Industry Association of the Pacific Islands (SEIAP) gathering, Ro Filipe described renewed collaboration with key agencies and international partners as central to closing the shortfall ahead of goals set for 2030 and 2050.
“For the Government, the objective is to move forward in terms of renewable energy. There are goals there in terms of the immediate term, by 2030 and 2050,” Ro Filipe told delegates, conceding that “the progress is not what we wanted or what we were aiming for, so we would like to accelerate that.” He made clear the ministry sees Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) and the Department of Energy as critical domestic partners in any stepped-up effort to deploy renewable capacity and integrate new generation into the grid.
The minister singled out regulatory and legislative hurdles as a significant drag on progress, and said the government has begun working with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and internal agencies to address those bottlenecks. “Some of that is related to the current setup we have in terms of the legislative regulatory framework. So we are working closely on that with IRENA, and also within government to ensure that we work towards that,” he said.
Ro Filipe also revealed officials are exploring incentive programmes aimed at encouraging private sector and household investment in solar. Proposed measures under consideration include steps to streamline grid connection for investors and to promote rooftop solar installations on individual homes — a move intended to unlock distributed generation and reduce strain on centralised supply. “For example, enabling not only connecting the solar power investors who are waiting there, but also in terms of rooftop solar for individual houses,” he said.
While solar took centre stage in the minister’s remarks, he said hydro and other options remain part of the country’s energy mix planning. The comments follow ongoing activity in small-scale hydropower development: in December a tender process for a mini hydropower upgrade in Buca Village drew international interest, signalling continued government attention to hydro alongside solar deployment.
The minister’s public admission of slower-than-expected progress and the promise of regulatory reform mark the latest development in a series of energy-sector moves aimed at meeting Fiji’s medium- and long-term targets. For investors and households, the shift toward clearer incentives and simplified connection processes could open new opportunities — but meaningful change will depend on the speed and scope of the regulatory overhaul Ro Filipe says is now underway.
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