Ten more electric vehicles to land in Samoa

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 04 MARCH 2022: Cabinet has approved ten (10) more electric vehicles to be imported into the country this month and will be processed on a trial basis.

The Minister of Finance, Mulipola Anarosa Molio’o emphasized this is a significant long term strategic plan to combat a worst case scenario that could arise from the current Ukraine and Russian war on future petrol supplies.

“Ten electric cars have been approved to be imported into the country, 5 small cars and 5 vans on a trial basis,” she said.

“If we look at petrol and diesel, we’re relying heavily on overseas supplies and given what’s happening in Russia and Ukraine, it’s impacting not only Samoa but the Pacific and the world in terms of supply.”

Samoa is following an ambitious Energy Plan to be reliant on renewal energy sources in five years’ time and moving towards electric cars is part of that overall plan.

Currently, five electric vehicles are being tested since the project launch at the end of last year. One is used by the Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, and the rest are driven for work related purposes by selected Cabinet Ministers.

The Electric Power Corporation has been conducting a pilot study on electric vehicles and to provide the government information to make policy decisions on electricity vehicles.

EPC initiated this project to test electric vehicles in the country and assess the feasibility for Samoa while also aiming at mitigating the impact of CO2 emissions on climate change.

EPC’s is one of the major players in the National Energy Plan that by 2026, Samoa’s energy needs will be reliant on renewable sources. At the moment, 20% of Samoa’s total electricity supply is from renewable energy sources such as hydro, solar, wind and other sources.