Government of the Solomon Islands on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to renewable energy development by strengthening its partnership with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and proposing the establishment of a regional ISA office in the Pacific.
The proposal was formally presented by the Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, Hon. Derick Rawcliff Manu’ari, during a bilateral meeting with ISA Director General, Mr. Ashish Khanna, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on the sidelines of the Seventh Regional Committee Meeting of the International Solar Alliance.
Minister Manu’ari outlined the country’s unique energy challenges as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), highlighting the Solomon Islands’ continued heavy reliance on imported diesel fuel for electricity generation and some of the highest electricity tariffs in the world.
He noted that the Solomon Islands’ geography, consisting of hundreds of remote and scattered islands, poses significant logistical challenges in expanding electricity access and attracting investment for renewable energy projects.
The Minister expressed the Government’s full support for the advancement of the ISA Country Partnership Framework (CPF), emphasizing that the Solomon Islands is ready to formally sign the CPF during the meeting in Colombo.
This framework presents an opportunity to align ISA’s technical expertise, financial tools, and capacity-building initiatives with the Solomon Islands’ national priorities and its commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Recognizing that ISA’s implementation in the Pacific region has faced challenges due to coordination and logistical barriers, Minister Manu’ari proposed the urgent establishment of a dedicated ISA Regional Office in the Pacific.
He stressed that most decision-making and engagement remain centralized in ISA’s headquarters in New Delhi, India, which creates real-time communication difficulties, delays project approvals, and limits understanding of Pacific-specific energy and governance issues.
A regional office in the Pacific would serve as a central hub to improve project delivery, enhance partner engagement, and act as a local advocate for the solar energy needs of SIDS countries.
The office would also foster stronger collaboration with key regional institutions such as the Pacific Power Association, the Pacific Community, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, as well as with multilateral development partners.
Minister Manu’ari further highlighted areas where ISA’s support would greatly benefit the Solomon Islands, including technical assistance for solar mini-grid development, rooftop solar installations, and solar water-pumping systems. The Government also seeks ISA’s assistance in facilitating solar investment through de-risking mechanisms and concessional financing, alongside tailored capacity-building and workforce training programs for local energy institutions.
The Minister proposed the joint development of a National Solar Roadmap for the Solomon Islands and expressed keen interest in participating in ISA’s upcoming SIDS Investment Forum to further catalyze renewable energy investments.
The bilateral meeting concluded with several agreed-upon actions. The Solomon Islands will proceed to sign the Country Partnership Framework during the Colombo meeting. ISA committed to assessing the feasibility of establishing a regional office in the Pacific, and both parties agreed to initiate a joint scoping mission aimed at identifying priority solar energy projects and technical assistance needs within the Solomon Islands.
The Government will also nominate a national focal point to lead the CPF’s implementation in partnership with ISA.
The Solomon Islands Government acknowledges ISA’s valuable support and looks forward to a closer, more regionally responsive partnership that will accelerate the country’s energy transition and contribute to its climate commitments.
About the International Solar Alliance (ISA)
The International Solar Alliance is a treaty-based intergovernmental Organisation launched on 30 November 2015 during the COP21 climate conference in Paris by the Governments of India and France. Its mission is to promote solar energy deployment in countries located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. The ISA provides technical assistance, capacity building, financial resources, and policy guidance to support member countries in scaling up solar energy solutions. The organization’s headquarters is in Gurugram, India, and it became operational in December 2017.
– SIG
