11/05/2026
Pacific Ministers Push Renewable Energy Shift and Maritime Connectivity at Port Moresby Summit
Port Moresby | 11 May 2026: Pacific energy and transport ministers have endorsed a renewed regional push toward renewable energy, maritime connectivity and coordinated infrastructure financing following a week-long ministerial summit in Papua New Guinea.
The outcome document, known as the Manubada Call to Action, was adopted at the Sixth Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers’ Meeting (PRETMM6) held at APEC Haus in Port Moresby from 4–8 May under the theme “Scaling Connectivity for a Prosperous Blue Pacific.”
Delegations from more than 20 Pacific countries and territories attended the meeting alongside regional organisations, development banks, private sector representatives and development partners. Participants included Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and French Pacific territories.
The declaration reaffirmed Pacific leaders’ long-term ambition to move toward a “100% renewable energy future” while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, which ministers said continue to expose island economies to volatile fuel prices, supply disruptions and fiscal strain.
Ministers also backed work toward a “fossil fuel free Pacific” transition, while recognising differing national circumstances and the financial pressures faced by smaller island states.
A major feature of the meeting was growing concern across the region about fragmented infrastructure financing and overlapping development programmes. Ministers said Pacific governments still lack a consolidated regional picture of who is funding what projects, where financing is flowing, and how investments align with regional energy and transport targets.
The Pacific Community (SPC) was tasked with developing a comprehensive regional mapping system covering energy and maritime transport projects, financing commitments and partner activities across the Pacific.
The summit also highlighted the growing strategic importance of maritime transport and fuel security across the Pacific as governments face rising shipping costs, climate risks and ageing infrastructure.
Ministers said energy and maritime transport systems must be treated as interconnected sectors requiring coordinated planning and investment rather than separate policy tracks.
The declaration further called for stronger Pacific-led coordination with development partners, warning against external programmes operating without alignment to regional priorities or national implementation needs.
Among the proposals discussed were regional pools of technical, legal, procurement and financial experts who could be deployed across Pacific countries to support infrastructure delivery, regulatory reform and project implementation.
The meeting also welcomed a Pacific Islands Forum decision to establish a Regional Energy Commissioner linked to the region’s transition agenda. SPC and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat are expected to prepare terms of reference ahead of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau.
Solomon Islands formally expressed interest in hosting the next PRETMM summit in 2029.
