Tonga to host Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers Meeting

Over 100 high-level delegates and experts will convene in Tonga at the end of April for the Third Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministerial Meeting.

The meeting will discuss the latest international and regional developments in energy and transport sectors affecting the region.

The high-level meeting, which will be hosted at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre in Nuku’alofa, will cover energy and transport challenges and priorities included in the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific, the Framework for Action on Energy Security in the Pacific and the regional Framework for Action on Transport Services.

“The meeting is timely. Individually as sovereign nations, we have obligations to these global and regional instruments, but more importantly, to our own respective nationally determined contributions and government’s energy and transport targets and aspirations. The meeting will therefore   look at adopting regional positions, which we can task our regional agencies and partners to assist us on and which we can go out to global forums and negotiations and promote with an united voice,” said Siaosi Sovaleni, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Pacific Community Director-General Dr Colin Tukuitonga said: “This meeting provides an important platform for energy and transport ministers to discuss and commit to regional positions and interventions that will complement national efforts towards achieving accessible, affordable, safe and clean energy and transport services for all in the Pacific region in the context of sustainable development.”

The theme of this year’s meeting is Affordable, Reliable and Sustainable Energy and Transport Services for All, which supports the vision of Pacific energy and transport ministers of their sectors being key pillars to enable sustainable development and eradicate poverty.

The week-long meeting will feature a combined plenary for energy and transport officials ahead of the ministers meeting.

High on the agenda for energy officials are discussions around needed reforms and regional commitments to facilitate the rapid transition of the region to a more cost competitive, reliable and low carbon economies.

The Third Pacific Regional Meeting for Energy and Transport Ministers’ Meeting is scheduled for 24 to 28 April.

 Photo: Renewable energy project on Vava'u, Tonga/Loop Tonga