Fiji can align its legal framework with the 2030 National Energy Policy by undertaking a comprehensive overhaul of its primary electricity legislation to prioritize renewable energy and private sector investment. According to the authors of the newly released report, this transition requires streamlining government oversight, clarifying the roles of key agencies, and removing regulatory powers from the state-owned utility to ensure fair market competition.
The report recommends that the government “Amend the Electricity Act 2017 to explicitly define the FDOE’s role and empower it to implement the objectives outlined in the NEP 2023-2030.” Furthermore, it suggests a long-term strategy to “Consider a comprehensive review of the Electricity Act 2017 to assess whether a complete overhaul is necessary to create a more modern and flexible regulatory framework.”
In simpler terms, Fiji’s current energy laws were written before its newest green energy goals were set, creating a mismatch between the rules on the books and the nation’s climate targets. To fix this, the report suggests rewriting the law to give the government’s energy department more power to enforce these new goals. It also highlights the need to move away from a system where the main power company helps set its own rules, instead giving that authority to an independent watchdog to encourage private companies to build more wind and solar projects.
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.
