Fiji’s current laws restrict independent power producers by granting the state-backed utility, Energy Fiji Limited (EFL), a legal monopoly over the nation’s electricity wires and customer sales. This system forces private energy developers to sell their power exclusively to their primary competitor under terms that are often unfavorable, according to the authors of the newly released report.
As the report notes, “EFL retains exclusive rights over the transmission, distribution and retail of electricity,” which ensures that “any IPP investing in renewable electricity generation has no option but to enter into a PPA with EFL.”
Effectively, while the government permits private companies to build clean energy projects like solar farms, it forbids them from delivering that power directly to the public. Instead, these businesses must navigate a bottleneck where the only buyer is a profit-driven utility that owns the entire distribution network. This creates a lopsided market where the utility can dictate contract prices and delay approvals, making it risky and difficult for outside investors to participate in the country’s energy transition.
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.
