In a press release about the news, Kiribati President <name>Anote Tong</name> was quoted as saying, "Kiribati faces big challenges it is remote, it is at risk from the effects of climate change, and it is vulnerable to economic shocks. [...] Shifting Kiribati's focus to reliable solar energy will provide a more secure, more sustainable power source for the country's people." Radio New Zealand International quoted <name>Tong</name> as saying, "It's the first time we are doing this. We're excited at the prospect of even substituting fossil fuel to a small extent at this stage. What the system being envisaged will only produce around 500 kilowatts, but this is the beginning of what I hope will be a pattern, the trend in the future."

The European Union's Fiji-based head of operations for the Pacific region, <name>Renato Mele</name>, supported alternative energy solutions like solar power for the region, but said that solar power had limitations because climate and environmental conditions sometimes meant batteries required to power the panels had a life of only 12 months, compared to other climates where batteries normally last five years. This created the potential to drive up standard operating costs. <name>Mele</name> has also noted these additional costs though are still lower than the cost of diesel power.

One News Pacific Correspondent <name>Barbara Dreaver</name> noted, "Governments will be able to put the money they (currently) spend on diesel into things like education and health."