Siviri is finally lit up

On December 5, the village of Siviri located on the North West of Efate celebrated their access to electricity thanks to the phase 2 of the extension of the Unelco network.

In his welcoming address at the official launching ceremony of the electricity held at the Saumaro, chief Masongo Mapula said: “We’ve been dwelling in the darkness for so long, today Siviri is finally lit up thanks to Unelco Vanuatu. The access to electricity is indeed a great achievement for my community. Our kids will be able from now on to study in the light and the villagers will now be able to develop small businesses”.

The Managing Director for Unelco GDF SUEZ Vanuatu, Philippe Mehrenberger reiterated the commitment of the public utility company to make sure that the by 2020, according to the timeframe scheduled by the government, 90% of the population within the Efate concession will have access to electricity.

He emphasised that the electrification of Siviri is included in the Vanuatu National Energy Roadmap approved by the Vanuatu government last year.

“By 2020, the electricity network will cover the whole island of Efate. Unelco GDF SUEZ Vanuatu is so proud to be able to work in partnership with the Vanuatu government in achieving that goal,” Mr Mehrenberger said.

He added that early next year, 2015, the work will commence to extend the electricity network from Siviri to Emua, Paunagisu, Takara and Epule village. And that by June next year, the phase three should be completed.

In his address, the Minister for Energy & Climate Change, James Bule thanked Unelco GDF SUEZ Vanuatu for its commitment to the Vanuatu Energy Roadmap. Mr Bule called upon the villagers and chief of Siviri to look after their electricity line posts.

Mr Bule and Mr M. Mehrenberger both saluted the involvement of the chiefs and especially custom owners in the success of the the extension of the electricity network.

“Chiefs and custom owners have considerably contributed to the project, without them the project would have not been possible,” Mr. Mehrenberger said.

Minister Bule told the Siviri villagers that they should appreciate the fact that they’re a privileged rural community that has access to water supply and electricity.

“A lot of rural communities are dreaming to have access to what you have today. You should make good use of these advantages”, Minister Bule said.

After the official launching ceremony, a team of Unelco electricians connected the first 21 SMAT meters of the first Unelco customers in Siviri village.

It was also announced that a pilot aid project under the Global Partnership on Output-Based Aid (GPOBA) will be introduced in Siviri in 2015.

Under that Output-Based Aid, Unelco technicians will freely do the electrical wiring at the households of small consumers who specifically have a 5 amps meter.