A Year 11 student of Sangam Sadhu Kuppuswamy Memorial College (SSKMC) will represent Fiji at a global meeting and competing against high schools from around the world on renewable energy issues.

17-year-old Prashil Nadan of Nadi, left yesterday for the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) meeting and competition in Abu Dhabi.

Prashil was selected after his SSKMC school became the national winner for the 2016 Energy Saver Model Competition organised by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

“It’s a huge honour to be chosen to represent my school and also the nation. There is a lot of hope upon us to represent everyone in Abu Dhabi,” he said.

Fiji Meteorological Services Director Ravind Kumar said: “As part of the Ministry’s initiative to take the competition a step further to international level, SSKMC took part in the 2016 Zayed Future Energy Prize (ZFEP) competition.

“As such SSKMC was selected as a finalist for the Global High School Prize 2017.”

Mr Kumar said SSKMC was the first Fijian school that will be competing for the Global High School Prize in the Oceania region against Aana 2 College from Samoa and Huonville High School from Australia.

Each regional winner will receive up to $20,900 (US$10, 000) and the final amount will depend on the project cost information in the proposal.

SSKMC will be competing against the five regions; America, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Asia.

Mr Kumar said they would also be attending the World Future Energy Summit opening ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

SSKMC science teacher Sarnesh Kumar said the prize money would go towards the project proposal which was currently in the pipeline for the school.

“We are going to use the money to complete the project proposal but if we don’t win we will still continue with the project but it will take a longer period of time for it to be completed,” he said.

Former Principal of the school, Anita Gounder acknowledged the Department of Energy for liaising with the staff of SSKMC and providing them an opportunity for the students.

Meanwhile, Mr Kumar wished Prashil the best on his trip.