The Samoa Transport Sector NAMA is in line with the Samoa’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and aim to achieve economy‐wide emissions reduction conditional on external international assistance and increase use of renewable energy with in the economy.  This NAMA also supports Transport Sector Plan (TSP) and one of the key outcomes of Strategy for the Development of Samoa (2016-2017) i.e. “Transport Systems & Networks Improved” with a vision of “A sustainable, safe, secure and environmentally responsible transport network that supports Samoa’s economic and social development”.  

The NAMA will reduce direct GHG emissions by replacing the fossil fuel with bio-diesel and introducing electric vehicles (Cars, Mini-buses and buses) in the country. The NAMA will not only support the decarbonisation of Samoa’s transport sector but will also have economy wide impact by reducing the national fuel import bill, higher private sector participation and other sustainable development (SD) benefits, such as improvement of the situation of groups with specific vulnerabilities, women and the poor. 

The NAMA covers three interventions. Under Intervention 1-Scaling-up bio-diesel use in diesel vehicles; the proposed NAMA intervention 1 will trial using biodiesel in 25 large trucks, 25 vans and 25 small trucks owned by government and private owners in Samoa. The funding for the NAMA will cover the capital costs for installation of 10,000 LPD biodiesel production plant, supply chain including sales and monitoring and to cover the initial subsidy component to make biodiesel economic and then for monitoring the project over a number of years.

Intervention 2 - Introduction of electric cars: For this NAMA intervention 100 electric cars will be operated and trialled as taxis as a pilot phase. Similar to other NAMA interventions worldwide, the aim of pilot phase is to check upscaling viability and acceptability, generate awareness about electric cars including highlighting its importance for the transport sector and to provide support and maintenance facilities for the vehicles. The funding for this phase of the NAMA Intervention 2 will cover the capital costs for 100 electric cars, charging stations and capacity building measures.

Intervention 3 - Introduction of electric buses for public transport: Under this intervention 10 electric buses (2 Large and 8 Mini buses) will be trialled in Samoa for public transport. Similar to other interventions, the aim of pilot phase is to check upscaling viability, support needed and acceptability. In addition to generate awareness about electric buses for public transport including highlighting its importance for the transport sector.  The funding for this phase of the NAMA Intervention 3 will cover the capital costs for electric buses, charging stations spares and capacity building measures.

In its pilot phase, the Samoa transport sector NAMA will provide the sustainable transport services to the Upolu and Savai’i Islands of Samoa. Over the 15-year lifetime of the NAMA, emission reductions will reach around 61,305 tons of CO2e. Another important component will be financial and technical support during the identification and implementation of the private sector, as the aim is to create investment environment for sustainable transportation and low carbon technology in Samoa. 

Capacity-building will be a key component in the implementation of the NAMA.  Special emphasis will be given to identifying and supporting the private sector participation in implementation of NAMA interventions in Samoa. The development and implementation of the Samoa Transport NAMA will require capacity building and training of the institutions involved, government ministries and institutions as well as various stakeholders like private bus operators, taxi owners and operators, ancillary service providers, financial institutes, NGOs etc. It will also need the development of outreach programs in order to incite interest within the private sector for the NAMA along with promotional campaigns marketing the interventions to generate awareness and interest in the adoption and utilization of electric vehicles within the country. 

The baseline scenario for this NAMA consists of two components, a GHG baseline and a sustainable development (SD) baseline. Setting the baseline scenario in this way allows all effects to be properly assessed and quantified through the monitoring activities described in the Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system. In the MRV, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change's (UN-FCCC)" Small-scale Methodologies: AMS-III.AK: Biodiesel production and use for transport applications and AMS-III.C: Emission reductions by electric and hybrid vehicles will be used to monitor GHG emission reductions. The sustainable development indicators have been identified using the Sustainable Development Evaluation Tool (SD Tool) developed by UNDP and monitored by the defined MRV protocol.

The total cost of the NAMA is estimated at around US$11.62 million. This includes support to cover the investment costs of the three interventions as well as extensive capacity-building efforts. The transport sector NAMA interventions selected for Samoa are cost intensive and given a limited financial capacity of Government of Samoa and private sector in the country, the NAMA financing is expected to come from NAMA donors. However, Govt of Samoa would provide the supportive structure and enabler policies to successful implementation of NAMA.   

Implementation of the NAMA will be led by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) as the NAMA Coordinating Authority (NCA). The National Energy Coordination Committee (NECC) will act as National NAMA Approver and Focal Point (NA) and Focal Point to the UNFCCC. The role of NAMA Implementing Entity (NIE) will be taken by the Energy Policy and Coordination division, Ministry of Finance will take up the role of NIE in association with LTA and MWTI.