Energy Crisis Puts Marshall Islands on Alert

The urban centers of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) may be without electrical power next month, and government officials are looking for solutions to the pending crisis.

Last week, the RMI's Chief Secretary wrote to the Ministry of Health, alerting management to "review its internal contingency plan, ensure all preparation and necessary measures are taken to minimize the operational impact should electric power goes off on Majuro by mid July."

The RMI-Marshalls Energy Company fuel crisis has been on-going for several years. Currently, there is a $6.5 million payment due on July 10 to the utility fuel supplier, SK Networks of South Korea.

Majuro, with a population of over 25,000, and Ebeye, with a population of over 12,000, will be at disaster-level with neither running water nor operating sewage system, if power is cut off.

The small island nation's only two hospitals, providing medical services for all of the Marshalls, are located on Majuro and Ebeye.

- Aenet Rowa, Yokwe Online, June 23, 2008