Time to close the Chapter on TOA and move to Alternative Energy

The most welcome thing to emerge from the Toa Petroleum issue is the agreement of the parties to cooperate with the establishment of a committee to consider the development of government’s policy in relation to fuel purchase, transportation, storage and distribution for the Cook Islands.
Welcome because in light of recent developments in Copenhagen in regard to Climate Change, it gives government the opportunity to pause and seriously consider its position in relation to the changing attitudes internationally towards energy.
Having reached this point, it is unproductive then to become immersed in back biting, back stabbing, accusations, finger pointing, blaming, political point scoring and recriminations. Lets now focus on moving forward but with intelligence, a clear head, commitment and a well thought out plan acceptable to all.
The world is moving away from fossil fuels and the pace towards alternative forms of energy is picking up. Accordingly, our government needs to be increasing its investment in alternative energy instead of pouring more capital into a sunset industry.
Government’s policy to own a fuel farm may have seemed advantageous at the time it was embraced but it now appears at odds with its current policy to pursue alternative energy. The price of fuel is not going to go down no matter who owns the fuel farm.
The recent recommendations of the Economic Development Task Force in relation to energy shows that by transferring to alternative energy we can save up to $50 million a year in fuel costs. Government should not get itself into a position where it is stuck with propping up a dying industry. The message should by now be loud and clear to those continuing to persist with fossil fuel based industries that change is coming and they must convert, adapt or die. They should expect no government bail-outs.
Economic Development Task Force Proposals
Reducing the cost structure of the economy
Lower energy cost through alternative green energy commercial trials in;
– Solar
– Wind
– Small scale hydro on Rarotonga
– Bio-fuel
– Ocean Technology
Green Energy – solar
Samoa is in the final stages of negotiating a $40m solar energy plant. Samoa is prepared to assist the Cook Islands get a solar project established with China.
Offers the potential to save the Cook Islands $50m p.a. in fuel imports or half a billion dollars a decade!
Further, it offers the potential to secure low cost energy should there be another fuel crisis and lower the overall cost structure for public and private sectors as well as the general population.
James Beer who is Chair of the Energy Committee commented to the Times on Friday as follows;
“The TOA deal has been labeled many things, and to put this into perspective, it’s about technology.
An archaic technology vs a new technology.
The old technology is no longer viable, it is no longer safe, and no longer secure, it is extremely risky, whilst the new energy and new ‘greener’ ways of doing things is now shaping the world.
There has to be a greater understanding from decision makers that the challenges that TOA faces is the same challenges many other nations will have to face in the next few years, and where smaller economies like ours are facing today.
Fossil fuel is an archaic technology, its time is up, it’s dirty, expensive and comes from some of the most politically unstable regions in the world.
When the typewriter was superseded by the laptop, governments did not go forward and write out checks to bail out the typewriter manufacturers.
‘The leader will always be replaced’, is not just a great saying for people and businesses climbing the ladder of life, but its also very true, irrespective of what industry, what product, what political leader, the leader will always be replaced.
Fossil fuels have been the incumbent energy source for over a 100 years, its time is up, and a new wave and a new way of doing things is enveloping the world, the change is the biggest change in human history. The Cook Islands cannot afford to make such mistakes, fossil fuels have had their time in the sun, that time is up, the world says it, the Cook Islands says it, it’s now time to act on it.”

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