NUC shows steady progress in its business performance and services
Minister Reagan Aliklik tabled the
Nauru Utilities Corporation's performance report for January and
February at the April sitting of parliament highlighting rainfall
of the period as a contributing factor to the business performance
of the state-owned entity.
The government subsidy of $2.86
million alleviated NUC's financial position from the increase in
fuel prices.
NUC's financial position compared
to the same period last year improved by eight per cent, while
credit owed to suppliers remains significant but is being addressed
through cost cutting measures on operational expenses,
strengthening payment plans, decreasing debtors turnover time, and
post-paid conversion to prepaid customer scheme.
The rainfall of the reported period
affected the electrical components of the engines as well as engine
maintenance interrupting power generation.
The average rainfall of 297mm for
January and February affected customer demand for water. Water
production averaged 14,092,000 megalitres and 13,431,750 megalitres
delivered to customers. Records also show a significant reduction
compared to the same period last year.
NUC is also expecting two
additional reverse osmosis units which are expected to increase
water production by 36 per cent.
NUC continues to work with the
Department of Climate Change and National Resilience and the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) on the Nauru Sustainable Urban Development
Project.
The project aims to improve water
accessibility through a water reticulation system for the western
to southern part of the island, covering 60 per cent of the
population.
The implementation phase will
commence next year and expected to be completed by 2030.
The heavy rainfall during
January-February also affected solar production. The average
renewable energy exported to the main power grid from all roof top
and ground mounted solar installations for the period was 146,413
kWh, a reduction compared to the same period last year.
The construction of the ADB-funded
six megawatt solar development farm is 69 per cent complete. The
completion date is extended from March to October 2024.
The solar farm will see an increase
in solar PV penetration and provide sustainable power and improve
fuel efficiency.
Sanitation service is a new
department of NUC after transitioning from Eigigu Holdings
Corporation (EHC) in July 2023.
The service entails the collection
of waste water, treats and disposes it in compliance with health
regulations and standards.
In the first six months of
operation a total of 880,000 litres of waste water was collected,
averaging 147,000 a month.
Minister Aliklik says NUC intends
to strengthen the capacity of sanitation services by working
closely with the Department of Climate Change and National
Resilience, the Department of Environmental Management and
Agriculture, and the ADB, on the Nauru Sustainable Urban
Development Project.
ENDS///