BY LORETTA B MANELE
The Ministry of Mines Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE) is set to carry out one of the biggest public surveys to get vital information for national energy planning.
According to a press statement from UNDP, the ministry in partnership with UN Development Programme (UNDP) will shortly begin the survey to seek information from individuals, communities and businesses around the country about their electricity use and needs.
As stated, survey answers will give a full picture of who has access to electricity, how that electricity is used and how people will take advantage of better access to affordable, sustainable power.
Derrick Manuari, MMERE Minister as noted, says improving access to electricity and its affordability is a central platform of the GNUT administration and key to improving the lives of Solomon Islanders.
“Good planning is critical to building electricity infrastructure and policies that work for Solomon Islanders, and this survey will give us the information we need to shape the process.
“I ask anyone with an interest in the future of the nation’s electricity network – and that means everybody – to respond so they can have a say in this vital part of the nation’s development,” he said.
This survey designed and hosted by UNDP is said to be based on graphics and can be completed quickly.
“It will be distributed by a mixture of SMS messaging, social media posts and QR codes. Respondents can reply for themselves, their household or their community, and everyone who contributes will go in the draw to win mobile phones.
“Survey links will be available over coming weeks by Telekom ‘blast’ SMS messages, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) Facebook page and QR codes on posters around Honiara. The organisers hope to gain responses from at least 100,000 people,” said UNDP.
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