At the Pacific Energy Summit held in Auckland in March 2013, the Government of Samoa (GoS) and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NZ MFAT) decided to work in partnership to increase the generation of energy in Samoa from renewable sources.The goal is to have an efficient, reliable, safe, affordable and sustainable electricity supply for Samoa. The desired outcomes are:- Reduction in cost of electricity (to households, businesses, government and the Samoa Electric Power Corporation (EPC))- Increased least-cost energy generated through renewable energy - Reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels - Savings from reduction in diesel fuel use

The Partners undertook conceptual designs for four areas of potential investment:1. Support to the Energy Sector2. Investment in Photovoltaic Electricity Generation3. Feasibility, Design, and Potential Investment in Wind Energy Generation4. Investment in the ADB-led Hydro-Power Generation and Rehabilitation Project Additional activities or investments may be considered and progressed under the Partnership where these have been prioritised and endorsed by the GoS and approved by the PSG.

A range of delivery modalities are being used to progress Partnership activities/investments:1. Provision of direct technical assistance (for advisory or design roles) by funding partners as facilitating agencies2. Direct contracting of detailed design and supervision and construction/installation by funding partners as facilitating agencies3. Grant funding of GoS-led delivery managed according to GoS systems 4. Projects tendered for private sector delivery by the EPC.

The Partnership is governed through a Renewable Energy Partnership Project Steering Group (PSG) comprising representatives of: GoS via Ministry of Finance; NZ MFAT; and EPC. Other development partners active in the energy sector, particularly the EU and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have been invited to join the PSG.

Samoa Electric Power Corporation, Government of Samoa, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Complementing: EU/NZ Energy Access Partnership Asian Development Bank