Introduction Samoa's power system has expanded significantly since 2013, with installed capacity increasing from about 42 megawatts (MW) to more than 90 MW in 2026.[1] Diesel generation remains the largest source of electricity, accounting for about two-thirds of total annual generation. The remaining annual capacity comes from solar, hydropower, and battery storage.[2] Heavy reliance on imported diesel exposes Samoa to global fuel price volatility, increasing transportation and electricity generation costs, and creating potential fiscal pressures where the government seeks to limit the pass-through of higher energy costs to households and businesses. Mineral fuels represent around one-fifth of total imports (graph below). Mineral Fuel Import Share of Total Imports FY= fiscal year ending on 30 June. Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, Samoa. At the same time, ongoing financial pressures on the Electric Power Corporation have limited its ability to maintain infrastructure and invest in upgrades, increasing the likelihood of outage. Apart from global energy shocks, Samoa’s electricity system is also vulnerable to climate-related disturbances. In December 2012, Tropical Cyclone Evan struck the Pacific Island nation, seriously damaging power generation and distribution systems. As a result, the main island, Upolu, lost electricity. Within a week, power was restored to about 10% of Upolu’s population; within 4 weeks, about 60% reconnected; and by mid-February 2013, electricity was fully restored.[3] The aftermath of the extreme weather event highlighted the need for better power sector resilience. Renewable Energy Commitment In its Third Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, Samoa targets to achieve 75% renewable electricity generation by 2035, entailing a need for significant scaling up of renewable energy investments, grid upgrades, and storage solutions, alongside policy and institutional measures to enable reliable system integration.[4] However, financial pressures, combined with maintenance and investment backlogs, constrain progress toward this target. A 20% electricity tariff reduction introduced in November 2021—to ease household financial pressures—led to financial challenges for the Electric Power Corporation. High global fuel prices between 2022 and 2024 significantly weakened the utility’s finances, while tariff adjustments were kept on hold. Higher generation costs widened operating losses and strained liquidity, limiting available resources for operations and maintenance. In March 2025, a power crisis triggered by cable faults, storm damage, and backup generator failures led the government to declare a 30‑day state of emergency. Policy Action The government is pursuing major energy reforms to expand renewables, modernize the grid, and strengthen Electric Power Corporation’s finances. Immediate actions include upgrading the Fiaga Power Station and reinforcing the Upolu grid, as well as supporting the finance and operations of the power utility through improved cost recovery, upgraded billing systems, and more effective maintenance. In the medium term, the government plans to meet its renewable electricity generation commitment by diversifying the energy mix through solar, hydropower, wind, and biomass investments, and upgrading battery storage systems to manage intermittency. These aim to strengthen energy security by reducing dependence on imported fuel, improving grid stability, and enhancing sector governance, planning, and regulatory coordination. Energy security can further be accelerated through reforms and robust institutions. Other initiatives—such as smart metering, establishment of dedicated operation and maintenance funds, and technical certification programs—can help improve the energy sector’s overall sustainability. A review of the tariff and price structures is also needed to balance Electric Power Corporation’s financial sustainability with household affordability. Further, it would be important to assess whether subsidies should be for the entire category of domestic customers or should be targeted to vulnerable households. Strengthening sector governance will also be critical. This includes reaffirming the regulator's role in reviewing utility costs, fuel surcharge arrangements, and tariff setting, as well as reviewing the Energy Management Act 2020 to clarify the respective roles of the regulator, utility, and Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure in sector coordination, technical oversight, and accountability. In addition, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), through its Office of Market Development and Public Private Partnerships, is providing transaction advisory services for the development of a large-scale solar photovoltaic systems integrated with battery storage, aimed at improving grid stability and managing intermittency. ADB has also provided private sector financing to an independent power producer through the Samoa Solar Power Development Project and the Sun Pacific Solar Expansion Project. Together, these projects are expanding renewable energy generation capacity, reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels, mobilizing private sector participation in the energy sector, and supporting Samoa’s renewable electricity generation targets. Conclusion Strengthening energy sector resilience will require a balanced approach that addresses both infrastructure and institutional constraints. Priority actions include scaling up renewable energy investments alongside grid upgrades and battery storage to improve system reliability. Restoring the Electric Power Corporation’s financial sustainability through improved cost recovery, operational efficiency and timely tariff reviews will be essential to support ongoing maintenance and future investment. Continued technical assistance and development partner support will also play an important role in building long-term capacity in system operations and planning. Note: This article is derived from the Asian Development Outlook April 2026: The Middle East Conflict Challenges Resilience in Asia and the Pacific. [1] C. Fruean. 2026. Samoa’s Energy Transition: Opportunities in Island Power Systems, Storage and E-Mobility. Presentation. Regional Energy Investment Forum. 28 April. [2] Asian Development Bank. 2025. Grid Security and Resilience Enhancement Sector Development Program, Subprogram 1. Concept Paper [3] Government of Samoa. 2013. Post-Disaster Needs Assessment: Cyclone Evan 2012. [4] International Monetary Fund. 2023. Samoa: Staff Report for the 2023 Article IV Consultation. Ask the Experts Faafetai Golovale-Leiofi Principal Country Officer, Pacific Department, Asian Development Bank Faafetai Golovale-Leiofi works at ADB’s Pacific Subregional Office in Samoa. She supports ADB operations in the country. Prior to joining ADB, Faafetai worked at the Samoa Ministry for Public Enterprises, where she has over 10 years of experience in state-owned enterprises reforms and policy development for public bodies management. She is a Certified Chartered Accountant with the Samoa Institute of Accountants. She holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Otago. Ilisapeci Vakaloloma Associate Economics Officer, Pacific Department, Asian Development Bank Ilisapeci Vakaloloma is based at the Pacific Subregional Office in Suva, Fiji, where she manages ADB’s portfolio for Kiribati and Samoa. Before joining ADB, she built over a decade of expertise in national accounts and economic statistics at the Fiji Bureau of Statistics. She holds a postgraduate degree in economics and a bachelor’s degree in economics and management, both from the University of the South Pacific, Fiji. Leave your question or comment in the section below: View the discussion thread.