Tokelau gets $7m for solar power stations

The government is giving tiny Tokelau $7 million to help it install three solar power systems.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says they’re going to provide nearly 100 per cent of the power for Tokelau’s population of just over 1400.

“Many of our Pacific neighbours are reliant on expensive imported diesel for electricity generation and this is a barrier to developing their economies,” he said.

The systems will be installed on each of Tokelau’s three main atolls.

New Zealand company Powersmart is working on the project with IT Power Australia.

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