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PPUC seeks OEK approval for $2.85M escrow account to settle Solar Pacific invoices

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By Kambes Kesolei

The Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC) is requesting the Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) to approve the appropriation of $2.85 million from the FY 2024 budget. These funds would be placed in a dedicated escrow account as mandated by the power purchase agreement (PPA) with Solar Pacific Pristine Power Inc.

PPUC Chairman Ngiratmetuchel Belechel informed Senate President Hokkon Baules in a letter dated July 31, 2024, that the state-owned utility company has started receiving invoices from Solar Pacific. He emphasized that while the budget authorizes the funds, specific appropriation is necessary to establish the escrow account, as required by the PPA upon the solar farm’s commercial operation.

“Because the language only states that it is authorized, and not appropriated, we are humbly writing to you to request appropriations of the funds because we have already begun receiving invoices from Solar Pacific Pristine Power, Inc.,” Belechel said.

Furthermore, Belechel highlighted that according to the power purchase agreement, the establishment and maintenance of the escrow account should have already occurred upon the commercial operation of the solar farm.

The PPUC’s agreement with Solar Pacific has been the subject of legislative scrutiny, with the Senate issuing subpoenas for documents related to the contract award and subsequent rate increases.

Catholic leaders to descend on Palau

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No mass for Catholics from Thursday to Sunday morning

The bishop and all the priests and deacons of the Catholic Diocese of the Caroline Islands including Palau and the FSM states will descend to Palau this week to do a retreat at the Carp Resort Island of Ngercheu, according to church announcement during mass last Sunday. 

Fifteen priests and three newly ordained deacons including Palau’s own Sngebard Melairei will be arriving on Tuesday, July 30 with Bishop Julio Angkel, the head of the diocese residing in Tunnuk, Mwen, Chuuk. The church delegation will be joined by the Palau priest to conduct group mass and have breakfast at Osiaol in the morning of Wednesday of July 31 and then depart to Carp Island to begin their retreat until Sunday, August 4, when they return to Koror. There will be no mass from Thursday until Sunday morning. 

Retreat is a time to withdraw from regular activities for prayer, meditation, and study mostly in silence in a group and contemplate deeply one’s relationship with Jesus Christ and the meaning of one’s life.   

Upon their return to Koror on Sunday, the priests will conduct masses at 5 pm at the three churches in Koror and at several other churches on Babeldaob. They then return to Koror where a farewell dinner will be held for them at Osiaol before most depart that evening. 

As to Sngebard coming home, according to information from the church, he was ordained as deacon in Chuuk last month with other deacons and they will be assigned by the bishop to any church in the diocese for nearly a year after which they return to their island to be ordained as a priest. Sngebard Melairei is expected to be ordained in Palau as a priest at the end of the year.