Port Moresby ( The National): ENERGY ministers in the South Pacific are meeting in Nadi, Fiji to forge a policy pathway for Pacific Island states to achieve sustainable development through secure use of energy and achieve efficient transport services.
Petroleum and Energy Minister Nixon Duban left last Friday for the meeting, which begins today and ends on Friday.
Based on the theme “Sustainable energy and transport services for all in the Pacific Island countries and territories”, the meeting would forge a policy pathway for Pacific Island states and territories towards achieving sustainable development through accessible, affordable, efficient, safe and secure energy use and transport services.
Ministers would deal with the latest international and regional developments in the role energy and transport services played in economic development.
Duban said while PNG was looking forward to its first LNG export in June, a sizeable portion of PNG society may not have affordable, efficient and sustainable energy.
He said it was important for the government to balance the use of energy resource by developing renewable energy resources.
“Rural electrification continues to be a challenge.
“Geothermal, solar, wind and sea current energy resources are plentiful in PNG.
“I will be briefing regional colleagues on PNG’s energy profile and government’s priorities and focus on important policy initiatives needed for economic growth and sustainability,” Duban said.
“As a leading member of the small island Pacific states (SIS), PNG’s energy profile is an important guide for SIS, given our leadership in the development and sale of our oil and gas commodity as well as the renewable sectors.”.