In the village of Rukurukulevu on Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, power lines stretch through palm trees providing electricity to about 400 residents, with the community’s last building—a kindergarten near the coastline—finally connected this year. However, rising energy costs linked to global developments have made maintaining electricity a growing challenge for villagers, highlighting Fiji’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and accelerating interest in renewable energy sources.

Vereniki Nalio, a local spokesman, reported electricity bills reaching FJ$100 (approximately US$44) or more per household monthly, with community facilities like churches and halls paying between FJ$200 and FJ$300. Nalio himself spends around FJ$60 monthly on electricity, which he described as “very, very high.” Some residents have begun installing solar panels to reduce reliance on the national grid. One household featured a modest solar array visible beyond laundry lines, while another displayed a larger setup, reflecting the village’s increasing shift toward renewables.

The global energy squeeze is partly attributed to suspensions in fuel shipments from the Gulf following recent attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel, driving up costs internationally and locally. Nalio noted that these disruptions encouraged the community to explore solar energy, despite the higher initial investment—about FJ$3,000 for a basic system—due to the promise of lower long-term costs and energy independence. Plans are underway to equip communal buildings with solar panels to alleviate shared expenses.

Fiji recently hosted a preliminary United Nations climate summit ahead of the main Conference of the Parties (COP) session in Turkey. Pacific Island nations underscored the urgency of expanding climate financing to support renewable energy initiatives. The event itself faced a symbolic challenge when a power outage left around 4,000 attendees without electricity, underscoring the region’s energy vulnerabilities.

Ro Filipe Tuisawau, Fiji’s government minister responsible for public works, weather services, and transport, cited overreliance on fossil fuels and this year’s particularly strong El Niño weather patterns as key contributors to rising energy prices. Reduced rainfall has diminished hydroelectric dam capacity, and without increased precipitation by mid-November, the country could face water and power rationing, he warned. Tuisawau mentioned the possibility of restricting water use in hotels to manage shortages.

Fiji currently allocates up to 12 percent of its GDP to fossil fuel imports, a significant economic burden. The government has set an ambitious target to generate 90 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2035. To achieve this, it plans to invest FJ$2 billion over the next decade in solar and hydropower infrastructure, including FJ$460 million toward solar farms in the next four years, FJ$650 million for two new dams, and more than FJ$700 million to upgrade transmission lines.

Despite these long-term efforts, Tuisawau acknowledged that many Fijians are currently feeling the economic impact of rising global fuel prices and challenging weather conditions. “With the price, with geopolitical issues, and in addition El Nino right now, it’s a very difficult situation,” he said.