Solomon Islands calls for tailored renewable energy financing and support for SIDS and LDCs at the 16th IRENA Assembly in Abu Dhabi.
The Solomon Islands has called for tailored renewable energy support for SIDS and LDCs at the 16th IRENA Assembly in Abu Dhabi on 11 January 2025.
Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Derek Rawcliffe Manuari made the statement while delivering the country’s national address to the International Renewable Energy Agency Assembly in the United Arab Emirates.
He said renewable energy assistance must be context-specific and reflect the unique development challenges faced by Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, particularly in project preparation, financing and bankability.
Minister Manuari outlined Solomon Islands’ energy challenges, including low electricity access, high energy costs and reliance on imported fossil fuels, which account for more than 90 per cent of the country’s primary energy supply. He said the nation’s archipelagic geography further increases infrastructure costs and complicates service delivery.
Despite these constraints, he said Solomon Islands has significant renewable energy potential in hydropower, solar, ocean energy and bioenergy, but stressed that the energy transition must be practical, inclusive and people-centred.
The Minister said for Solomon Islands and other SIDS, the energy transition is not only about reducing emissions but also about resilience, affordability and reliable access to energy, particularly as countries face increasing climate-related risks.
He called for SIDS-specific financial solutions, including highly concessional and blended financing supported by de-risking instruments and simplified access procedures, alongside stronger regional cooperation in procurement and emergency energy support.
Minister Manuari also acknowledged IRENA’s initiatives for SIDS, including the SIDS Lighthouse Initiative, and said energy security, climate change and inequality are interconnected challenges.
He invited development partners, multilateral banks, climate funds and the private sector to work with Solomon Islands in ways that strengthen long-term national capacity and institutions.
Source: Government Communication Unit
