3 Pico Hydro Stations on Pentecost Enhance National Energy Road Map (NERM)
In January 2023 when the Vanuatu Government delegation led by the Honourable Minister of Climate Change, Ralph Regenvanu, with donor partners and stakeholders formalised the ground-breaking ceremony for hydro systems to be installed in Central Pentecost, the community only relied on petrol generators and small solar panels for electricity.
This week (March 24, 2026) the communities of Waterfall, Melsisi, and Larimaat celebrated with the Government of Vanuatu, through the Department of Energy (DoE) the handing over of three Pico hydro stations under the Vanuatu Green Transformation Project (VGET).
The Government delegation for the commissioning was led by the Minister of Climate Change, Mr Regenvanu and Director General of the Ministry of Climate Change, Mr David Gibson.
The VGET was launched by the Government of Vanuatu and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aiming at promoting resilience and adaptation against climate impacts through a renewable source of energy.
With support from the Government of Japan, the project advances renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy access for the most vulnerable in Vanuatu.
This directly supports the achievement of the Government of Vanuatu’s National Energy Road Map (NERM), which targets 100% electrification by 2030.
The three Pico hydro stations on Pentecost generate an estimated 65kW, with 700 households from these communities to benefit from reliable and sustainable electrical services.
In his address the Minister of Climate Changed encouraged the communities to work together with the Government of Vanuatu to ensure the projects become sustainable.
“The systems need extension to other nearby communities but the Government will focus on the sustainability of the existing systems first.
“The Government of Vanuatu has already decided to create a new concession area, which is the island of Pentecost, (like Unelco on Efate) that is managed by a utility company that manages and operates the network for the island.
“This has to go through a tender process,” the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Ralph Regenvanu, said, assuring the involvement of the Utilities Regulatory Authority (URA) to ensure an affordable service for the people of Pentecost.
Member of Parliament for Pentecost, Charlot Salwai, encouraged and reminded the communities with access to the renewable source of electricity that the Government of Vanuatu worked together with donor partners to ensure the project becomes a reality.
As such, he said it does not mean just flicking electricity switches on and off but requires economic activities to enable income generation to sustain electricity supply to households and maintain the pico hydro systems.
Mr Salwai also urged the communities to protect the water catchment areas.
The Ambassador of Japan to Vanuatu, His Excellency, Naohisa Okudo, was present for the commissioning and he also gave an address to mark the momentous occasion for the people of PENAMA Province, particularly on Pentecost and Vanuatu.
The UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Mr. Abduvakkos Abdurahmanov, also gave an address to mark the milestone for Pentecost island and to acknowledge the contractors who ensured the completion of the project.
Director of Energy, Mr Matthew Tasale, acknowledged all stakeholders involved in the project.
