Mr. Albert Nukuitu, Chairman of the Buin Power Management Committee and a respected local community representative, is one of the key players in the revitalization of Buin, the biggest town in southern Bougainville.

Following a civil conflict that ravaged the island between 1988 to 1998, various parts of the island of Bougainville have been left without reliable electricity. “The energy sector was never my career. The basic reason why I’m assisting Buin power is that when I came back home, I realized that we needed power.” 

Lack of fundamental infrastructure and services led Nukuitu to action. His deep involvement in the energy sector was born from a simple and powerful desire to bring change to his community. From 2010 to 2014, a limited and intermittent 8-hour power service was briefly established in Buin. This initial effort was an entirely locally led initiative. “We were using our own resources to install power,” he explains.

However, the path has not been smooth. He recalls that there had been some attempts to bring power to Buin in the past, but it all ended with subsequent withdrawal because of the unfavourable financial landscape and bleak perception of the region’s potential. 

Between 2014 and 2018, Buin experienced a period of complete blackout before energy operations tentatively resumed. “In the night, we were in total darkness. People really struggled,” remembers Nikuitu. 

In 2018, he mobilized a group of citizens to restore the town’s power. Since then, power company’s hours of operation have gradually scaled up from 8 to 22 hours. 

Now he is contributing to UNDP and Government of Japan’s joint Pacific Green Transformation Project to introduce clean and renewable forms of energy to the town. From engaging in installation of the solar panels on the rooftops of three Innovation Hubs to supporting the development of an approximately 1-MW solar farm in Buin, his invaluable contributions have been essential for the project’s aim of supporting Buin’s green transition.

Mr. Nukuitu stresses that no external support could succeed without strong local commitment. His approach was hands-on and grassroots. Prior to the project, he repeatedly went around town to engage residents in meetings, advocating for sustainable energy. 

“For a town like Buin, physical face-to-face contact is the only way to disseminate crucial information”, he explains. “We talked to as many people as possible to ensure that information was shared about this project and the impact it would have on people’s lives.”

When asked about the challenges in adopting new technology and establishing clean energy systems, his answer is simple. “There are no challenges, there are only expectations.” He consistently chooses to look at the bright side of life and focuses on potential rather than obstacles. “Green energy is a window,” he stresses. “A lot of benefits will come associated with solar power. Buin will be a better place for you to come and invest.”

Mr. Nukuitu grew up in a family and society where people helped each other. “We don’t have any social security (provided by the state), so really our relationships are our social security,” he said. This tradition of strong community solidarity motivated Nukuitu to take on the role he is currently in. “I have what most people don’t have such as knowledge, experiences, networks, and connections in both Bougainville and Papua New Guinea. So instead of sitting and complaining about the services not reaching our place, I do what I can. I’m attached to what I’m passionate about: Buin”.

Apart from energy supply, he realized the need for proper lodging to meet the needs of travellers to Buin. So, Nukuitu started a hotel business. Building a hotel was also a way of building confidence in the town and attracting people and government services back to it. “I took a gamble,” he says. 

Since it was a major investment undertaken without formal insurance, he had to rely on strong family and community relationships for investment. “I realized most of the government services are in Buka and Arawa. By attracting more visitors, people will start realizing that Buin is safe to visit,” he explains. 

After establishing the hotel, Nukuitu has consistently struggled with the high tariffs on fossil fuels that he uses to operate back-up generators during blackouts. Depending on the number of customers, it costs between 10,000 to 12,000 kina per month to run the generators. “If a natural disaster happened and all the property was damaged, I’d be broke. I paid and put all resources in my business at my own risk,” Nukuitu notes. 

With the arrival of the new solar farm in Buin, Nukuitu feels that taking these financial risks was worth it. The 1MW solar farm will provide around-the-clock electricity to the entire town and is expected to decrease energy costs by up to 50%. By saving on powering the hotel, Nukuitu will be able to invest in improving the facilities and services he provides to his customers.

Above all, Nukuitu is relieved that the long journey to provide reliable energy to households in Buin is finally nearing its end. “Just like everybody else, I’m happy new things are coming in, these things we never actually had,” he says with satisfaction.