Does Kiribati need electricity?

As a small, remote island state, Kiribati is highly dependent on imported energy supply. Electricity is one of the government’s largest expenditures. Yet the current fossil fuel-based power system is inadequate to meet future demand.

Why is electricity so expensive in Kiribati?

Of the 7,877 households in South Tarawa (44% of total households in Kiribati), 72.4% are connected to grid electricity. Access is largely for lighting, and that lighting is often insufficient, inefficient, and expensive. The high electricity cost has suppressed demand and has hindered growth in the commercial and tourism sectors.

Who generates electricity in Kiribati?

Sector context. Grid-connected electricity in Kiribati’s capital, South Tarawa, is generated 4. and distributed by the Public Utilities Board (PUB), a state-owned electricity and water utility.

Why is Kiribati so expensive?

Kiribati’s remoteness from major markets and most resources leads to high import costs, while its low elevation - averaging only 2 meters above sea level - creates severe vulnerability to sea-level rise and other climate change impacts and natural hazards.

How did Kiribati get a grant co-finance?

The Government 24 Project Administration Manual (accessible from the list of linked documents in Appendix 2). of Kiribati requested grant co-financing equivalent to $3.7 million from the Strategic Climate Fund,25 and $2.0 million from the Government of New Zealand through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both to be administered by ADB.