ENERGY & OIL AND GAS
The green economy in New Caledonia: A measured but promising development
In New Caledonia, the weight of the green economy is still limited but the potential is considerable.
The development of the sector is underway and is gaining momentum under the combined effects of public impetus, the fall in the cost of renewable energies, the identification of promising eco-activities or even the development of the circular economy and innovation.
The scheme for the energy transition of New Caledonia (STENC) adopted in 2016 targets ambitious objectives, with in particular 100% of the public distribution of electricity from renewable energies by 2025, this will actually be achieved in 2023.
Renewable energies represent 13.5% of total electricity production in 2017: 11.2% hydro, 1.4% wind energy, 0.9% solar energy, 0.01% biomass.
Many projects are underway, with a particularly dynamic photovoltaic sector notably with the recent inauguration by Total of the largest solar park with storage in France with 58,000 solar panels and a total capacity of 30 megawatts, it will feed in electricity to 40.000 Caledonians.
At the same time, New Caledonia is continuing to catch up on waste management and sanitation. Some deficiencies have lead provinces to make significant investments which will contribute to the economic development of the territory, through the emergence of energy recovery or extended producer responsibility (EPR).
In addition, the exceptional ecosystem of New Caledonia and the extent of its natural maritime and terrestrial wealth, which, according to Pascal Canfin, General Director of World Wide Fund for Nature France could earn the title of "world capital of biodiversity" and offer a significant wealth creation potential for many sectors.
Source IEOM
Strong energy dependence linked to the metallurgical sector
New Caledonia's energy mix is 97.7% fossil fuel, including 54.1% petroleum products (mainly fuel oil and diesel), 43.6% coal, and 2.3% renewable energies. This high energy dependence is directly linked to the metallurgical industry which consumes 61.2% of the total energy consumption of the territory.
Source IEOM
Major actors in
ENERGY
Agence Calédonienne de l’Énergie
Government Owned
The Caledonian Energy Agency’s role is to implement the energy transition scheme set out by the government and to contribute to the development of the electrical system, to promote the rational use of energy and the development of renewable energies.
Akuo Energy
Akuo Energy is a french company specializing in renewable energies such as wind, solar, hydro and biomass with no physical presence in New Caledonia; Akuo Pacific’s headquarters are located in Sydney, Australia.
In partnership with Enercal Energies Nouvelles (100% subsidiary of Enercal), Akuo Energy inaugurated the Focola solar plant, the first Agrinergie® greenhouses deployed in the Pacific, an innovative system combining market gardening and solar PV electricity production.
EEC ENGIE New Caledonia
ENGIE is the main energy distributor on the island, it has been operating in NC since 1929.
ENERCAL
54% Government Owned
Enercal was established in 1972 and manages the Caledonian electricity system, ensuring the balance between electricity production and consumption, it buys electricity from different producers and delivers it to metallurgists and distributors. In 26 of the 33 municipalities, Enercal delivers electricity to communities, professionals and individuals.
Nouvelle Calédonie Énergie
Government Owned
New Caledonia energy is the entity in charge of developing the project for the new power station that will supply the energy of the Société le Nickel (SLN), the current power station is almost 50 years old and is extremely polluting. The ultimate goal is to have a carbon neutral plant in 2030, which would be a world first in the mining sector.
www.linkedin.com/company/nouvelle-calédonie-energie
Solar park in the town of Boulouparis
Total Quadran
Total Quadran is a 100% subsidiary of Total dedicated to the production of renewable electricity in mainland France and in overseas french territoires, it has a strong presence in New Caledonia.
It recently commissioned the Hélio Boulouparis 2 power plant, the largest solar power plant with storage in France. This is the second installment of a photovoltaic park constituting the largest solar program ever carried out in New Caledonia. Its first unit, Hélio Boulouparis 1, was commissioned in 2017.
Vergnet Pacific
Vergnet Pacific is one of the three maintenance subsidiaries of Vergnet SA, a global supplier of renewable energy solutions. They have worked on projects all over the pacific in countries such as New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati etc.
Advanced renewable solutions, encompassing wind, solar PV and hybrid technology, make Vergnet a recognised partner of choice for mining companies throughout the world.
The company leverages a 25 year heritage in delivering power quality, performance and availability of supply in remote, isolated environments with extreme climatic conditions and limited electricity infrastructure.
COL DE PRONY WIND FARM
Mont Dore, New Caledonia
Vinci-Energies - Cegelec - Axians - Actemium
Vinci-Energies, offers a full range of high value-added services in the energy, air treatment and information technology sectors covering four areas of activity: Industry, Tertiary, Infrastructure and Telecommunications.
www.vinci.com/vinci.nsf/fr/implantations/pages/nouvelle_caledonie.htm
Major actors in
OIL AND GAS
Three oil companies manage the supply of fuels, gasoline, diesel and kerosene, in New Caledonia.
SSP
Société de Services Pétroliers supplies, stores and distributes hydrocarbons. A supply agreement as well as a brand agreement signed with the Shell group allows the SSP to keep the brand in the majority of its service stations - it has twenty to date - and to market fuels and lubricant products under Shell license. The SSP also operates 16 service stations under its Pacific brand.
Total Pacifique
Total Pacifique was established in 1963, it is a 100% subsidiary of Total Group. TOTAL Pacific's activity consists of marketing fuel (for land vehicles, boats and aircraft), LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and lubricants.
Total Pacifique owns 28 service stations in NC and is also present in Wallis and Futuna.