New Zealand, EU to fund Tuvalu's conversion to renewable energy

New Zealand and the European Union (EU) on Thursday agreed to continue funding the conversion to renewable energy in the tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully announced.

"Currently 95 percent of Tuvalu's electricity comes from diesel generation, which is unsustainable financially," said McCully, who is currently visiting Tuvalu, in a statement from his office.

New Zealand has funded the development of four small scale solar-hybrid systems on the islands of Niutao, Nanumanga, Nanumea and Vaitupu, which would provide 90 percent of their power needs and help guarantee a reliable and efficient electricity service.

"Today we have entered into a partnership with the European Union and Tuvalu to continue this work. Funding from the EU will develop three further mini-grid systems on the islands of Nukulaelae, Nukufetau and Nui," said McCully.

Tuvalu has a population of almost 12,000 spread across nine small atolls with a total land area of about 27 square kilometres.

McCully and EU Commissioner Andris Piebalgs left Wednesday on a tour of four Pacific island countries, namely Samoa, Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Cook Islands,to assess progress on renewable energy projects.

In Samoa Wednesday, they announced support for the Pacific's largest solar energy array on the island of Apia.