Welcome to the United Nations
A toxic weed in Samoa is being turned into electricity, raising hopes that families on the southern coast of the Pacific island can be connected to the national grid as a result of a partnership between the Government and the United Nations.
“This is the first time ever in Samoa that you produce electricity from biogas,” said Mina Weydalh, Energy Analyst and acting head of the energy unit at the UN Development Programme (UNDP) office in the country. “It's not a new technology. They do it in Europe, and they do it in China. But it's new in Samoa.”
To showcase the bio-fuel partnership, delegates at the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) conference set to begin on Monday in the Samoan capital, Apia, will be riding around in 15 six-seater electric carts partially fueled by organic waste.
The project is part of the regional Pacific Island Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy Programme (PIGGAREP). Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the project is now supporting Piu to build and manage a power station fuelled entirely by local organic waste. The Danish Government, added another $3 million to be used by Samoa and eight other countries in the region.
Samoa, like many other Pacific island states, is very heavily dependent on generators that run on either diesel or petrol, and which have to be shipped to the island. The country imports up to 100 million litres of petrol per year, of which nearly half are used for transport, according to official figures.
As the UN conference on small island developing states officially kicks on 1st September, the carts run on bio-fuel are meant to be reminders of successful partnerships and how to expand them.
For more information, please click here.
SOURCE & COPYRIGHT: © United Nations