Taiwan is extending a solar streetlight program to remote outer atolls of the Marshall Islands.
The Minister of Natural Resources and Commerce Dennis Momotaro (left) receives solar streetlight and funding donation from Taiwan's Ambassador to the Marshall Islands, Daniel Tang. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Giff Johnson
The Taiwan Ambassador to the Marshall Islands, Daniel Tang handed over 100 solar streetlights, 66 batteries and $US20,000 to support the installation costs earlier this month.
Through the National Energy Planning Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Commerce, the Marshall Islands government received the aid from Taiwan.
The Marshall Islands has maintained diplomatic ties with Taiwan since 1998.
This latest donation of solar streetlights aims to provide lighting to communities in the outer islands.
The goal is to get local governments to use the government's Outer Island Economic Development fund to purchase solar streetlights with the the ones donated by Taiwan to be used to match the purchases by up to 10 per atoll.
Taiwan has donated hundreds of solar powered streetlights that are in operation in the urban centers of Majuro and Ebeye.
The new batteries included in the latest donation would replace batteries for the existing solar streetlights in Majuro.