Group of ambassadors from Pacific island countries visits“Kumejima Model”, a combined use of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) and deep seawater, at the Institute of Ocean Energy
The Pacific Islands Countries Ambassadorial Group in Tokyo, H. E. Dr. Tevita Suka Mangisi, Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of Tonga, H. E. Mr. John Fritz, Ambassador, Embassy of the Federated States of Micronesia, H. E. Mr. Alexander Carter Bing, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Mr. Garrick Ngitwa Kelen, First Secretary, Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Ms. Helen Loi TANUVASA CHOU-LEE, Chargés d’Affaires ad interim, Embassy of the Independent State of Samoa, Mrs. Karalaini Belo Sania, Second Secretary, Embassy of the Republic of Fiji, Ms. Magdalene Shirley Moi-he, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Papua New Guinea, a total of 13 people from six countries, visited the Kumejima Satellite of the Institute of Ocean Energy, Saga university (IOES) on October 31.
The purpose of this visit was to support and coordinate the development and deployment of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology, that is attracting attention as a clean energy source to promote decarbonization, and that was mentioned in the Joint Action Plan of the 10th Pacific Islands Summit (PALM 10) held on July 18, 2024.
The Ambassador’s group was accompanied by Mr. MITANI Masahiro, Senior Coordinator First Country Assistance Planning Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. SHIOZAWA Hideyuki, Director, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, and Mr. YANAGISAWA Koji, Director, University Research Facilitation Division, Research Promotion Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports Science and Technology, and other officials.
The Ambassadors paid a courtesy visit to Mr. TOBARU Hideo, the Mayor of Kumejima Town, Mr. TAMAKI Yasuo, the Chairman of the Kumejima Town Council, and officials of the International Ocean Energy Utilization Consortium. They visited the IOES, and were accompanied by President KODAMA Hiroaki, TOYODA Ichihiko, Director of Research & Community Cooperation Affairs, MISHIMA Nobuo, Vice President for International Affairs, and IKEGAMI Yasuyuki, Director of Institute of Ocean Energy, A total of 12 people from Saga university, welcomed the guests. At IOES, Director IKEGAMI gave a tour of OTEC’s power plant with an overview of OTEC’s structure, and after a lunch reception, the participants visited the farms of tiger prawns, sea grapes, oysters, which use deep seawater combined with power generation. The lunch reception was also an opportunity for international exchange with a performance of traditional Kumejima performing arts.
Saga university has been working on OTEC for more than 50 years and succeeded in the world’s first long-term demonstration study on Kumejima in 2013. OTEC technology is not only attracting attention as an energy source for island countries, but also has a significant feature that deep seawater used for power generation can be used in combination. The “Kumejima Model,” which combines power generation with industries using deep seawater and seawater desalination research projects, has attracted visitors from more than 70 countries around the world. It is hoped that this visit will promote understanding of OTEC and the university’s efforts to realize industrial promotion and the future spread of OTEC throughout the world.
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports Science and Technology
Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of Tonga (front row, fourth from left)
Ambassador, Embassy of the Federated States of Micronesia (third from left)
Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (second from left)
