Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has assured the people of Samoa that her government continues to offer support to the management and staff of the Electric Power Corporation to promptly restore reliable electricity across the island.
“I wish to inform that the Corporation continues to work diligently and urgently to address all issues, aiming to resolve these challenges and restore reliable and safe electricity services to our nation as soon as possible,” she said.
She then listed 31 “key factors” that led to the enforced power outages starting in February this year.
These factors included major underground cable failures between the main power station at Fiaga, Aleisa and Fuluasou station.
“Heavy storms on March 9 caused extensive damage to power lines and poles, leading to widespread outages across the island,” she said.
The sudden breakdown of three major generators compounded the power issues facing the island causing further power cuts affecting homes and small businesses.
Some schools were also affected including the National University of Samoa which had to readjust lecture times, according to the scheduled power outages.
“With a total loss of 10 MW in power supply, EPC had to introduce a power rationing schedule starting 16 March 2025, to manage the limited electricity available,” said Fiame.
She said five rental generators (5 MW total) will arrive by 5 April 2025, to help with the power shortage and the government is finalizing the purchase of two diesel generators (4 MW) from HNAC, China, expected to arrive in August 2025.
She added repair work is continuing at Tanugamanono and Ta’elefaga generators, as well as a 10 MW solar farm with a 10 MWh battery storage system set to launch in December 2025, increasing energy capacity by 20 per cent.
Photo: Samoa Observer.
