Northern Group Battery Replacement Project Progresses

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 is to confirm that no delays to this project are attributed to New Zealand despite discussions in Parliament recently. Cook Islanders living in the Northern Group experience intermitted power cuts due to irregular system component failures, the Cook Islands Government is addressing these issues through the Northern Battery Replacement Project and the Pa Enua Capital Distribution Fund.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 is funded through the Cook Islands Infrastructure Trust Fund (ITF). The ITF is funded by New Zealand to support the Cook Islands Government in implementing infrastructure investment. The funds for the project were approved in March 2024 following extensive planning and consultation. Given the in-depth planning activities undertaken, the Northern Battery Replacement Project includes, the replacement of the initial batteries provided, a recovery plan for recycling batteries, replacing other related equipment components, supporting infrastructure upgrades and an operation and maintenance plans for each site.

𝐌𝐅𝐄𝐌 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭, 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 - the deadline for tender submissions is 31 March 2025.

Despite the difficulties of communications due to isolation of the Pa Enua, MFEM have also been working closely with Island Administrations of Pae Enua Tokerau and Te Aponga Uira (TAU), to purchase current model batteries, inverters and other tools deemed critical to deliver temporary power supply relief. These activities are funded from domestic funds appropriated into the Pa Enua Capital Distribution Fund.

𝐄𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 about this news release should be made by email to: angelia.williams@cookislands.gov.ck