Electricity and Water Regulation in the Independent State of Samoa

Castalia strategic advisors prepared this report to the Asian Development Bank. 

Samoa consists of two main islands (Savai’i and Upolu) and several smaller islands, some uninhabited. Samoa is located in Oceania, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand. Samoa is geographically compact compared to many other Pacific Island nations. The two main islands of Upolu and Savai’i account for a large proportion of Samoa’s total land area. The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, agriculture, and fishing. Recent diversification has seen growth in tourism, timber, and food processing (primarily seafood). Agriculture still accounts for 90 percent of Samoa’s exports, and 11.6 percent of GDP. Samoa’s main agriculture products are coconut oil and cream, copra and taro.

The report provides a description of the electricity sector; water and wastewater sector in Samoa, highlighting how the sector is organised, recent performance trends and a desk assessment of regulatory substance and governance.