SUVA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Over the past five years, the Fijian government has pumped in 224 million Fijian dollars (about 105 million U.S. dollars) towards the energy sector that has directly resulted in ordinary Fijians enjoying a better life.
While commissioning the Grid Extension Project on Thursday, Fiji's Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Disaster Management and Meteorological Services Jone Usamate said that more than 25,000 Fijian households have felt the benefits of that development.
Usamate reiterated that the Fijian government through its Look North Policy will continue to put in place proper, sustainable and dynamic infrastructure.
"Government has also invested an additional 2.1 million Fijian dollars (about 0.98 million U.S. dollars) for the extension of the grid to Navai stage 2," he said.
"Other major grid extension projects taking place in the Seaqaqa area include Solove Stage 1 at a cost of 3.3 million Fijian dollars (about 1.55 million U.S. dollars), with 106 households, and Lagalaga settlement at a cost of 4.45 million Fijian dollars (about 2.09 million U.S. dollars) with 264 households."
The minister said that the complexion of this extension is the end result of attentive planning, strategic thinking and a steady flow of investment from the Fijian government.
The minister confirmed that currently, 96 percent of Fiji's population of more than 884,000 people have access to electricity, with nearly 80 percent of the population who are connected to the national grid.
