New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has urged all Pacific island countries to have an energy policy and strategy that is linked into their own national economic development planning.

    Speaking at the 19th Post-Forum Dialogue Partners Plenary session following conclusion of the 38th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting here on Thursday, Clark said energy issues are linked to sustainable development. 

    She recalled a meeting of Pacific Energy Ministers held in Rarotonga in late April, during which the ministers discussed the challenges and opportunities Pacific islands countries face in achieving secure, reliable, resilient and less costly energy supplies. 

    The ministers put forward some excellent proposals for action in the region, the prime minister said, adding "We now need to ensure there is some real momentum underway to turn proposals into reality." 

    Clark said high dependency on imported oil makes the Pacific particularly vulnerable to increases in world oil prices. 

    "Oil prices and supply are subject to a variety of risks. With little spare capacity in the market any disruption (political, technical or natural) can impact on prices or available supply," she said. 

    Clark noted that the development of a regional bulk fuel procurement initiative for the Pacific is an important step towards reducing this vulnerability to oil price fluctuation. 

    She urged all Pacific island countries to work hard to ensure this initiative be successfully turned into a positive step forward for the Pacific. 

    The Pacific Islands Forum is a regional organization which groups 16 member nations, namely, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Niue, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.