Page 8 - IB April 2025

We Say We Say

Transport trifecta .... Tuvalu’s fuel costs are impacted by distance and a growing number of vehicles on the road.
Photo: Netani Rika

TIME FOR ALTERNATIVES

ENERGY – THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY

The time has come for the authorities economies can escape this fact. a success story, but cannot keep up with
across the region to look seriously at Alternative energy sources will not the continued demand for energy from
alternative sources of energy. power buses and trucks on which much residential and industrial consumers.
Global oil prices continue to climb, of our agriculture and tourism sectors The only realistic way to reduce our
directly affecting the cost of fuel and rely so heavily. reliance on non-renewable energy is a
indirectly forcing other costs into an Across the region, state and private concerted effort to shift to alternative
upward spiral. energy generation companies have sources.
With continued tensions in Europe attempted to harness wind and solar Tax concessions on bicycles will
and the Middle East, and now the tariffs energy on a scale which will benefit help cut down on fuel use and lead,
introduced by US President Donald consumers. eventually, to healthier people and
Trump, it is likely that fuel prices will In Fiji, attempts have been made cleaner environment.
continue to rise this year. to supplement power in the national Small farming communities should
Given the increasing numbers of electricity grid with excess energy be encouraged to rely on methane gas
vehicles on the roads, these fuel price produced at sugar mills, the burning of rather than costly diesel generators.
increases which are as yet in the wood chips and natural waste products, Vehicle owners should be offered
pipeline, will eventually affect the and the manufacture of bio-fuels. incentives to buy cars with smaller,
Pacific. Perhaps Tuvalu has the most fuel-efficient engines.
And Pacific consumers will have successful solar energy plan, Many vehicles on the roads are merely
no option but to pay, either as supplementing its power needs on large, unnecessary status symbols with
motor vehicle owners, operators, or Funafuti using floating solar platforms. huge engines consuming large amounts
passengers. While all these efforts are of valuable fuel.
Without natural reserves of crude commendable, the combined energy There is also the option of the simple
oil or petroleum gas, we are forced to produced at these facilities will not flick of the switch. Often, we fail to
rely on suppliers who control a fast- make a significant impact on the turn off computers, lights, fans, and air-
diminishing commodity. regional fuel bill. conditioning units that are not needed.
Most of the economy is dependent on The combined copra industries of By simply switching off the power to
services. This means increased reliance the Pacific do not have the capacity to un-needed appliances, we can all play a
on motors to drive plant, vehicles, and supply the necessary volume of coconut part in conserving energy.
ships. oil to power public transport. What is certain is that we must all
There is no way that island nation Hydro-electricity projects have been take action - immediately.

8 Islands Business, April 2025