COVID has affected the timely implementation of the rural electrification projects – Usamate

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the timely implementation of the rural electrification projects.

While speaking on the motion to debate the review of the 2018-2019 Audit Report on Government Commercial Companies, Commercial Statutory Authorities and Other Entities and the 2018-2019 Audit Report on Statutory Authorities, Minister for Infrastructure, Jone Usamate says 2020 in particular will go down as one of the most challenging years for Energy Fiji Limited.

The Minister says apart from the pandemic there were 4 tropical cyclones which affected the business of EFL adding that EFL staff and resources were put to the their biggest test ever and restoration works became EFL’s highest priority.

Usamate highlighted that the impacts of COVID continued in 2021 and affected EFL’s business and their ability to toll out rural electrification projects.