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Alternative Energy Grant to FSM provided by Government of Turkey

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): January 22, 2009 - The Government of Turkey has responded favorably to an application submitted by the FSM Mission in New York and has approved an amount of $200,000 towards a project entitled "Solar-Powered Groundwater Supply System for the Atoll Islands of the Federated States of Micronesia". The Mission in New York had earlier obtained an assistance grant in the amount of $25,000 for securing technical assistance in preparing an application to the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) for developing the application for this project. The proposed project budget is actually larger than the amount provided for by Turkey, so there will be a need for a supplemental amount appropriated to the project or the scope of the project will need to be reduced.

The project will involve the construction of a solar powered groundwater supply system on a selected atoll island in the Federated State of Micronesia. Water will be pumped from wells in pristine areas to storage tanks. From the storage tanks, water will flow by gravity to a water use area adjacent to every home on the island. Solar panels providing power for the pumps will be located on a large secure government building, such as a school or municipal office.

The immediate objective of the project is to provide clean convenient groundwater for all the residents of the island. This supply of water will complement already existing supplies of water from household rainwater catchment and storage systems. This will be a pilot project and the selection of the atoll has yet to be determined. Site selection criteria include accessibility to the island, current school water supplies, island support for the project and state support of the project.

The long term objective of the project is that the groundwater supply system will be replicated on other atoll islands, thereby greatly increasing the number of beneficiaries of the project. The actual installation of the groundwater supply system will take place in calendar year 2009. Final design of the system will be complete and all project materials procured before that time.