Press Releases

» Japan Provides Desalination Plant to relieve Tuvalu’s water problems

Embargo: Friday, 02nd June 2006, 10:00a.m.

The Government of Japan will provide a new Seawater Desalination Plant, worth US$89,909.00 (approx. A$115,000.00), under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme to the Government of Tuvalu, to assist the Ministry of Energy’s efforts to alleviate the current severe water shortage in Tuvalu.

Grant Contract for the Project for Water Supply for Funafuti Island was signed between H. E. Mr. Masashi Namekawa, the Ambassador of Japan and H.E. Mr. Seve Paeniu, Tuvalu High Commissioner to Fiji, on 02 June, 2006 at 10:00am at the Embassy of Japan, Level 2, Dominion House, Suva.

The Desalination plant will help ease the chronic water shortage situation in Funafuti which has a population of approximately 5000 people. The plant with a desalination capacity of 65 cubic meters per day will help the people of Tuvalu to access fresh water promptly for drinking, and other daily activities.

Japan’s assistance to this project indicates its commitment to contribute to the improvement of the living standards and welfare of people in Tuvalu and is in line with its Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy of promoting development at the grassroots level. The GGP programme is specifically designed to address basic human needs, which include water supply, health, basic education, vocational training and rural infrastructure. It is hoped that this assistance will help further strengthen the friendly ties between the governments and the people of Tuvalu and Japan.