Pacific regional energy data repository initiative gaining momentum

Pacific leaders came together on the sidelines of the 68th United Nations General Assembly in September 2013 to sign a historic declaration with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The declaration called for the establishment of a Pacific Regional Data Repository (PRDR) in support of the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative. A series of consultative workshops have been completed since, with more planned for the coming months. Recently, SPCs Energy Team was in Tonga, where it conducted a national workshop on the PRDR SE4ALL initiative and a follow-up compilation of the Frameworkfor Action onEnergySecurity in the Pacific(FAESP) energy security indicators. In his opening speech, the Director of the Tonga Energy Road Map Implementation Unit, Inoke Vala said the PRDR SE4All initiative is the result of the ongoing issues and challenges PICTs face in accessing reliable and timely data.