BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Access to reliable energy source is a dream come true for NIDA Black Sandy Beach said Managing Director Mato Mui.
The NIDA provides service such as camping, recreational activities, birthday party or wedding party since operating almost 12-years ago.
“The NIDA Black Sandy Beach main source of lighting and water supply for its customers is through a power generated from a generator. We usually spent $600-$800-00 per month for fuel and $9600-00 for a year,’’ according to Mui.
Mui said NIDA usually has to spend $SBD150-250 Dollars every day on fuel to provide the much-needed services for his customers.
“The implementing partners of the 30KW Solar PV Power system is the Ministry of Mines and Energy, supported by the UNDP and was funded by the Global Environment facility (GEF) through SPIRES after they carried out an assessment,’’ he said.
“They found that access to reliable energy is the major problem faced by the three tourism operators, Nida black Sandy beach, and Ginger Beach and Doma bangalows. That is how we have this project. It was commissioned on Friday 21 June 2024,’’ said Mui.
“Although Nida Black Sandy Beach can have many guests every week, we cannot serve money due to fuel cost. This has clicked our minds to really go into business and seek assistance,’’ he said.
“We expect earning $SBD 100,000- per year in terms of our revenue collection but due to poor road conditions and expenses our net profit is around $24,000- per year. We have expenses as well. The net profit fluctuates since we are yet the progressing stage of the business. We are not in a position where we wait and see the profit,’’ he said.
“The work on the project started in the end of 2023. we start to use the Solar PV Power system after the NGE this yea2024. Now, we really enjoy it as we have power supply24/7. If the sun has no problem, then we have no problem as well,’’ he said.
Mr Mui said that it is the first of its kind for SPIRES to help tourism operators who rely mainly on Generator to power their programs and daily services.
“The aim of the project is to boost tourism activity within the three operators, Nida black Sandy beach, and Ginger Beach and Doma bangalows to reduce the cost of fuel and also aim at protecting the environment by using renewable energy source.
“As a Managing Director of Nida Black Sandy Beach and beneficiary of the project and I am happy and proud. Thank you, Ministry of Mines and Energy, UNDP and Global Environment facility (GEF) through SPIRES,’’ said Mui.
Subsequently operating as a Tourism Operator, serving money is also a struggle for Mui not only for fuel cost but poor road conditions.“For us Tourism operators’ infrastructures is our top priority. In our case we have a poor road condition. However, I applaud the GNUT because Infrastructures is one of the key focuses in their 100-day policy and I believe that tourism is one of the potentials to contribute to the economy. And through proper infrastructure it will connect our customer easily to access our market.










