Historically, Tonga has almost exclusively relied on the import of diesel for generating its electricity needs. An estimated 14 million liters of diesel are consumed each year to generate over 89% of the grid-supplied electricity. This cost burden (equivalent to approximately 10% of total gross domestic product), along with vulnerability to price fluctuations and increased consciousness of environmental impacts; led to the development of the Tonga Energy Road Map 2010 – 2020 (TERM). This established the Government of Tonga (GOT) targets to generate 50% of all electricity from renewables by 2020. Sunergise New Zealand and Tonga Power Limited (TPL) are proposing three 2MW solar plants on the island of Tongatapu in the Kingdom of Tonga to contribute to the GOT meeting its renewable energy target by 2020. Associated facilities for this Project are being funded by TPL separately and include: • Line upgrades – The solar plants will be connected to the electricity grid in Tongatapu. This requires TPL to upgrade the existing 11kV electricity lines at Fualu and extend the electricity lines by 1.2km to the site at Ha’utu within the road reserve. • Road upgrade at Fualu – The solar plant site at Fualu does not currently allow for adequate access to site. TPL will fund an upgrade to one rural road to enable the electricity line upgrades and materials to be delivered to site during the pre-construction and construction phase. The road is 1,075m in length from Hihifo Road and has a road reserve of up to 5m (1.33 acres in total area). No land acquisition is required as the road reserve already exists and TPL will work with residents living along the road well in advance of construction to reinstate the road reserve with minimal disruption. This EIA covers the three solar PV plants and associated facilities proposed on Tongatapu. The EIA was based on the concept designs and site visits undertaken during the feasibility study. The fieldwork, consultations and site visits for the EIA were undertaken in March - June 2019.
53258-001-iee-en_0.pdf
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