BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
AUSTRALIA’S SBD1.5 million off-grid renewable energy agreement with Superfly Limited under the Australia-Solomon Islands’ renewable energy partnership will save Good Samaritan Hospital $1.8 million in fuel costs compared to $3 million.
The Good Samaritan Hospital in North Guadalcanal provides essential healthcare services for over 43,000 people in Tetere and surrounding communities, including around 21,500 women who depend on it for maternity care and child health services.
Through this partnership, Superfly will install a solar-hybrid system, which will create more sustainable and consistent energy generation for the hospital, enabling local community members to access a safer and more resilient healthcare setting through reliable energy.
According to Dr. Zimlon Thuzead Bosawai of Good Samaritan Hospital, this significant cut is a result of Superfly and the Australian Government’s off-grid renewable energy cooperation, which aims to provide security for vital healthcare services in the province of Guadalcanal.
Dr. Zimlon Bosawai said Good Samaritan spent more than $30,000 every two months and $180,000 per year on fuel energy.
“For the past 15 years, Good Samaritan Hospital has spent more than $3 million. For this partnership, after 10 years of partnership with these three partners, Good Samaritan Hospital will save more than $1.8 million.
“Back in 2019, the statistics for Good Samaritan Hospital for its accommodation area were more than 43,000. Today, our accommodation area for the populations that will benefit from hospital health services is more than 65,000.
“It’s more than five provincial populations in the country. So, we actually operate it as a provincial hospital. Good Samaritan Hospital is the main loading bay for the eastern side of this province. It saves more than 70,000 of the populations in this province. Today, Guadalcanal Province is the most populated province. The latest population is more than 176,000 compared to Malaita province’s 166,000,’’ said Dr. Zimlon Bosawai at the launch of the off-grid renewable energy partnership on Friday, June 7, at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara.
He said that the four biggest private sectors that Good Samaritan is providing health services for are the GPPOL Company, Gold Ridge Mining Company, Win Win Mining Company, and Tina Hydro Company.
“So it is one of the very important health facilities that provides secondary treatment for the employees,’’ he said.
Dr. Zimlon Bosawai said that this solar hybrid system is one of the kinds that will help boost rural health service deliveries in the country, particularly for Good Samaritan Hospital.
“Good Samaritan is the first recipient of this project, the solar hybrid system, and I would like to convey our sincere gratitude to the Australian government for accepting the health facility as the first recipient in the Solomon Islands or even in the Pacific.
“So having these partners, Good Samaritan Hospital is privileged and so pleased to have this solar hybrid system installed very soon. So on behalf of our team, the Good Samaritan Hospital, and Guadalcanal Provincial Health, we would like to convey our gratitude to the Australian government. Thank you so much for this opportunity and blessing for us to have this system and for the project to be implemented,’’ Dr. Zimlon Bosawai said.
Solomon Islands government has announced four off-grid renewable energy partnerships, totaling SBD 8.1 million. These partnerships include securing renewable energy access on Savo Island, Energizing Malaita and Vavanga communities with affordable solar power, and generating energy security for essential healthcare in Guadalcanal Province.
The Australian High Commissioner, Rod Hilton, highlighted the importance of these partnerships in the Solomon Islands, stating that they could transform rural and remote communities by providing reliable, affordable electricity.