Fiji’s primary competition law fails to specifically address renewable energy, which restricts the national regulator’s ability to prioritize green power projects. According to the authors of the newly released report, the current legislation lacks the necessary definitions and price-setting authority required to effectively manage the transition to sustainable energy sources.
The report notes that “There is no specific mention of ‘renewable’ in the FCCC Act 2010,” which “limits the regulator’s role in defining or prioritising it when making decisions in advancing Fiji’s renewable energy objectives.” Additionally, the analysis finds “there is no authority to prescribe minimum or maximum charges for the supply of electricity from the IPPs to EFL.”
In simpler terms, the law governing Fiji’s competition watchdog was written in a way that doesn’t account for the unique needs of a modern, green energy system. Because the word “renewable” isn’t in the text, officials struggle to give special preference to wind or solar projects over traditional ones. Furthermore, the regulator currently lacks the power to set the prices that the national utility pays to independent green energy producers, creating a major hurdle for private companies wanting to invest in the country’s power grid.
The report ‘Fiji: Assessment of Legislative and Regulatory Frameworks for a Just and Inclusive Energy Transition’ was published by the International Renewable Energy Agency in Abu Dhabi in 2026. Prepared by a team led by the legal firm Siwatibau and Sloan in collaboration with the Fiji Department of Energy, it provides a comprehensive roadmap for reforming the Pacific nation’s electricity sector to meet ambitious climate goals.
