In July 2001, ESCAP advised island governments and PROs, that ESCAP intended to send a mission to the Pacific Region and would entertain requests for specific technical assistance related to sustainable energy development. Requests for assistance were received from six countries, Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Kiribati. The request from Vanuatu was for a technical consultancy on geothermal energy and will be fulfilled separately by a consultant contracted by ESCAP.