Samoa is experiencing an “energy crisis” according to Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, who declared a state of emergency due to power outages affecting the country for weeks. The situation has caused significant disruption to businesses and daily life.

The government is working to provide relief to affected businesses and households, with temporary power generation units expected to arrive next week. Frustration over frequent electricity blackouts has been overwhelming, especially on the main island of Upolu, where major resorts have backup generators while hospitals, schools, and households struggle with regular power interruptions.

On Monday, Prime Minister Fiame warned that the crisis could result in a loss of around 16% of the national economy this year. Business owner Filisitia Fa’alogo is among those to suffer heavy losses due to the power outages. She had to give away meat to prevent spoilage, resulting in no profit for the month for her village store.

A survey by the Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry found that more than 90% of businesses have experienced frequent outages, with 70% facing disruptions multiple times per week. Equipment damage and significant revenue losses have been reported, with more than half of the businesses experiencing losses exceeding $1,000 tala ($350) per incident.

Power outages are not usual in Samoa, but they are typically associated with cyclones. This crisis has been caused by multiple technical issues, including the breakdown of generators and a fault in a crucial underground transmission cable. Aging infrastructure and delays in acquiring replacement parts have worsened the situation.

The state of emergency will run for 30 days, during which authorities will work to restore power supplies and support affected homes and businesses. Commercial power restoration across Upolu is expected before the end of April, but permanent generators won’t be ready for use until August.

Pacific business sustainability expert Tupa’imatuna FotuoSamoa stated that the persistent power failures have negatively impacted Samoa’s economy. He emphasized the need to consider broader solutions for power generation beyond hydropower, incentivizing other means of production nationwide.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/03/samoa-suffering-energy-crisis-after-weeks-of-power-outages