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38
What has been the progress and achievement(s) over the last 12
months? (continued)
report was provided to the Republic of Marshall Islands for comment.
• The supply chain in each of the signatory countries has been evaluated and the countries
have been provided with advice on improving fuel procurement. However, the existence
of long term supply contracts, and the absence of other countries joining the initiative
and the geographical spread of the signatory states means that sub-regional arrangements
are possible only for two countries. At this time, only Nauru and the Republic of Marshall
Islands have the fl exibility to participate in a regional procurement tender.
• The distinct requirements of member countries mean that regional bulk procurement
is not the preferred approach to reducing the cost associated with their supply chain
operations. Instead the type of assistance that appears to be of greater practical use to
member states includes:
- Pricing advice on the cost of transportation from Singapore and the local port charges;
- Advice on logistical arrangements, such as improving shipping transport linkages that
dictate any regional fuel movements;
- Advice on local infrastructure, such as improving the ability of members to have appropriate
fuel storage facilities or take medium range tankers; and
- Providing support to tender and price negotiations.
• Energy Ministers from Pacifi c Islands Countries and Territories at the Inaugural Regional
Meeting of Ministers of Energy, ICT and Transport in April 2011 acknowledged and noted
the progress to date with the regional bulk procurement of fuel and agreed to accept the
Pacifi c Petroleum Project Phase 1 as complete following the presentation of Milestone 5.
The fi nal Milestone 6 will become part of the petroleum advisory service to be delivered
by SPC, following the signing of a Pacifi c Islands Forum Secretariat - SPC Memorandum of
Understanding.
Coordinate actions to facilitate investment in sustainable renewable energy technologies, energy effi ciency
and conservation initiatives.
• The PPA provided technical assistance to its member utilities on their renewable energy
developments and programs through the facilitation of two workshops on grid-connected
photovoltaic installations held in Koror, Palau, and Nadi, Fiji.
• The PPA completed a study funded by United States Department of Interior to quantify the
energy losses in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and
Palau as well as Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
• The PPA commenced the study funded by the EU and NZAid to quantify the energy losses
in the power utilities in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Kiribati, Tuvalu,
Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue and Nauru.
• The offi ce of the Pacifi c Environment Community (PEC) fund was established at the
Pacifi c Islands Forum Secretariat. The USD66 million PEC fund is for environment
issues including climate change projects with a focus on the provision of solar power
generation systems and sea water desalination plants for Forum Island Countries. The
PEC Fund governance arrangements have now been established. The Joint Committee
(JC) established under the PEC Fund guidelines to provide an oversight and to make the
necessary decisions with respect to the implementation of the PEC Fund. The PEC Fund
governance structure has now been fully implemented with the establishment of the
Project Management Unit and the Technical Advisory Group at PIFS.
• The call for proposals has been made to Forum Island Countries by PIFS, which involves a
two-phase process as follows:
- phase 1 – submission of a project concept note, which is fi rst screened by the PEC Fund