FSM Information Services
Press Release
FSM Launches Project to Support the Achievement of National Energy Efficiency Targets
PALIKIR, Pohnpei—The Government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has launched an energy efficiency project that will accelerate, and add momentum, to both new and ongoing efforts for achieving the Nation’s energy efficiency targets. The Micronesia Public Sector Buildings Energy Efficiency (MPSBEE) project will attempt to remove the relevant barriers, and will assist the FSM National Government to achieve the National and State Energy Efficiency Targets.
Being energy efficient means to use less energy to perform an action; whether it’s cooling an office with an air conditioner, using a washing machine to clean clothes, or flipping a light switch to see in the dark, electrical devices need energy. Being energy efficient benefits the whole of society, from lowering environmental impacts of energy use to lowering the total amount of cashpower purchased to run one’s home.
The 2012 FSM National and State Energy Policy had set a target of fifty percent (50%) improvement in energy efficiency by 2020. However, due to implementation resource constraints and other barriers, the FSM has not been able to achieve its energy efficiency targets to date. The MPSEE project intends to address this.
Officially launched on April 20th, 2021 with an Inception Workshop, the MPSBEE Project Manager, Ms. Darlynn Henry, began by saying “I would like to start by expressing my deep appreciation to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for your endless support right from the project preparation phase leading to this Inception Phase; and it will be ongoing throughout the implementation phase.”
She further added, “Our sincere gratitude to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for approving a grant funding assistance of US$1.7 million for this project.”
The workshop was facilitated by the MPSBEE Project Management Unit (PMU) and was attended by key stakeholders of the MPSBEE project in Pohnpei State. The participants included representatives from Government line agencies, State Utilities, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, UNDP Regional Hub (Bangkok), the FSM Department of Resources and Development, and the Pacific Community (SPC).
In his keynote address, the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji Resident Representative, Mr. Levan Bouadze, highlighted, “In December 2012, the UN General Assembly declared 2014 -2024 The Decade of Sustainable Energy for All. …Directly relevant to this is the development objective of MPSBEE; that is, the improved application of energy conserving and energy efficient techniques and practices in the design, retrofit, operation, and maintenance of public sector buildings.”
The major proceeding of the Inception Workshop included familiarization of the project objective, outcomes, outputs, activities, management arrangement, total budget, and work plan followed by discussions on the status of co-financing.
The Project Document of the MPSBEE Project was signed by the FSM National Government and UNDP on December 14th, 2020. MPSBEE is a UNDP Climate Change Mitigation Project, with the Implementing Partner being the FSM Department of Resources and Development. The project recruited staff consisting of a Project Manager, Finance/Administrative Officer, and an Energy Efficiency Officer, in late March 2021.
Key activities that will be carried out under the MPSBEE project include the formulation of recommended energy conservation and energy efficiency policies, practices, and applications in public sector buildings; development of a public sector Building Energy Audit System (BEAS); design of energy conservation and energy efficiency technology application demonstrations; implementation of building energy conservation and energy efficiency demonstrations; and many more that will strengthen the energy efficiency strategies of the FSM.
His Excellency David W. Panuelo, President of the FSM, said “I have full and total faith and confidence in our Department of Resources & Development, and in the kind assistance from our development partners at the United Nations. I express my sincere hope that the MPSBEE Project will help the Nation achieve our energy efficiency targets within three years. Being energy efficient will mean less negative impact on our environment, paying less for electricity, and due to being more efficient, fewer blackouts.”
