FUNAFUTI, Tuvalu, Oct. 18, 2011 -- The island of Tuvalu, situated between Hawaii and Australia, will receive 120 m3/day of desalination capacity after a state of emergency was declared at the end of September due to a lack of fresh-water supply.
A total of US$4 million will be made available from the Pacific Environment Community (PEC) to help set up a 100 m3/day desalination plant for Funafuti, as well as two 10 m3/day desalination plants that will be mobile and can be shipped to the outer islands during times of extreme dry periods.
As well as desalination capacity, a 65.52kWp solar PV system will be installed directly to the power grid.
The PEC Fund is a commitment by the Government of Japan of ¥6.8 billion (approx US$66 million) to support Forum Island Country projects with a focus on the provision of solar power generation systems and seawater desalination plants, or a combination of both.
Tuiloma Neroni Slade, secretary general at the Pacific Islands Forum, said: "The project will compliment efforts being undertaken to address the state of emergency in Tuvalu and will contribute to the long-term goals of increased access to a sustainable supply of water during periods of drought, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and reducing carbon emissions through the use of renewable energy.”
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