02nd June 2016 A one day workshop was held yesterday for Tonga on the Pacific regional data repository for the Sustainable Energy for All (PRDR SE4ALL) hosted by the Energy Division under the Ministry of MEIDECC in close collaboration with the SPC attended by key stakeholders at Tungi Colonnade.
The PRDR is a regional initiative that originated from Tonga-convened Pacific Leaders Energy Summit in March 2013. It is a many-partners- one-team approach that support and address the energy security challenges of the region with emphasis on documenting, sharing and storing up-to- date, reliable energy data, project information and experience.
Speaking in the Opening Remarks, Mr. ‘Inoke Vala of Energy Division says that this is to respond to PRDR and its linkages to state the challenges of having reliable and timely energy data and also to further discuss on the process we face here in Tonga.
“We convened this workshop with you, our key stakeholders to share awareness on the PRDR and its linkages to addressing the challenges of having reliable and timely energy data for proper policy and planning work. Furthermore to discuss on the institutional arrangements, data collection process, and data sharing issues we face here in Tonga.”
In September 2013, Tonga amongst 11 other Pacific Island leaders signed the declaration for establishing the PRDR during the sidelines of the 68 th UN General Assembly meeting. This was followed by the launching of the PRDR portal at the Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) meeting in Samoa.
Since then, the PRDR initiative has further progressed with The Pacific Community (SPC) nominated as the permanent host of the portal in 2015. SPC has developed the portal, conducted consultation with energy data providers in-country, held national workshops & progress data sharing agreements to increase the buy-in support from the countries.
Mr. Vala also emphasized that the “portal not only provides a one stop shop for energy data and information for Tonga and the region but we can access accurate and reliable data and the ability to analyze and interpret those data for decision making and the formulation of energy policies are central to the effective participation of the PICTs in the global processes such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.”
Therefore this workshop provides them space for analyzing and discussing the sharing of information within themselves.
“It is important that we put together our efforts and share our data amongst each other and with the PRDR. If there are gaps and opportunities, I believe this workshop will provide space for further discussions and I encourage your active participation.”
The implementation of the first phase of activities covering the development of this portal (http://prdrse4all.spc.int/production/) links the Pacific to the global tracking of the SE4ALL initiative.
Country consultations includes Samoa, Tonga, Palau, RMI, FSM, Tuvalu, Kiribati, PNG and Vanuatu.
The Chairman of this workshop was Dr. Tevita Tukunga, Director of Energy Division.
Assistance from the World Bank is recognized in supporting this workshop.
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Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications