Samoa Declares 30-Day State of Emergency Amid Power Crisis

The Samoan government has declared a 30-day state of emergency as the main island of Upolu grapples with a severe power crisis.

This has included lifting tax on electricity-related equipment and mobilising assistance to support households, businesses and the private sector. 

Major disruptions to Samoa's electricity supply have affected residents and businesses, with power rationing in place since February.

The crisis is due to faults in the country's main underground power cable, severe weather causing damage to power lines and poles, and the failure of backup generators, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said last week.

A fault in the underground cable between Fiaga and Fuluasou power plants caused a blackout in Upolu last month, leading to further repairs, and three key generators failed, reducing power generation.

Photo by: Junior S Ami / Samoa Observer

Last week, the country's Finance Minister Lautimuia Uelese Vaaio supported the call for the government to declare a state of emergency.

The Proclamation of Emergency will enable the Government to implement urgent measures to stabilise the energy supply and mitigate the impacts of the crisis by:

1. Ensuring the timely arrival and operation of temporary generators before the end of April, ahead of the permanent units scheduled for August, along with the necessary overhaul parts for Fiaga;

2. Lifting tax and import duties on generators and other electricity-related equipment, including renewable energy systems, procured by EPC, households, businesses, and organisations for electricity generation;

3. Mobilising additional assistance and resources to support households, businesses, and private organisations adversely affected by the crisis;

4. Securing additional and targeted financial and technical support to assist EPC in implementing medium to long-term remedial works; and

5. Activating a whole-of-government coordinated response through the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) to coordinate the Government's response to the energy crisis.

via Samoa Observer