ADB Reaffirms Support for Tina River Hydropower Project during Project Office Visit.

Honiara, 10 July 2025 – The Project Office had the pleasure of hosting a high-level delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), including Ms. Cindy Tiangco (Director, Emerging Areas Operations/Energy), Mr. Rafael Abbasov (Senior Energy Specialist, Emerging Areas Team), and Mr. Roka Sanda (Principal Energy Specialist, Energy Sector Office). The meeting, also attended by Mr. Pradip (Project Manager-Project Office), Mr. John Korinihona (Deputy Project Manager John), Sahibzada Tanzeel (ESSM-PO) and the CBSP-2 team Monica Parsad (Procurement Officer), provided an opportunity to discuss the progress of the Tina River Hydropower Project and reaffirm mutual commitments to the project’s environmental, social, and infrastructure goals.

The delegation was briefed on the latest construction progress under Components 1 and 2 (Hydropower Infrastructure and Access Road), which has reached a 25% completion rate. Key highlights include:

• Access Roads (Lots 1, 2 & 3): Earthworks are 88% complete. Pavement concreting, widening, and drainage maintenance are ongoing.
• River Diversion Works: 11 of 12 blocks finished. Remaining work on Block 4 is in progress.
• Intake Gate: Excavation is complete; shotcrete application is in progress.
• Powerhouse: Silt fence and cofferdam completed. Foundation formwork underway.
• Penstock: Excavation fully completed.
• Surge Shaft: 19m of the planned 31m  excavation is complete.
• Tunnel Portal: Portal extension excavation progressing.
• Existing Batching Plant: Chilling facility and fly ash systems upgraded.
• Tunnel Boring Machine and Dam-site Batching Plant: Both have arrived in Honiara and are in final setup stages.

Additionally, the Environmental and Social Safeguards Team highlighted that:

• 31 Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) including the Biodiversity Management Plan have been cleared for main works and are in implementation for main works for component #1.
• The Gender Steering Committee continues to guide the implementation of the Gender Action Plan (GAP) and striving to achieve 30% GAP targets for local employment.
• Weekly GRM team meetings (with THL, HEC, CBSP-2, and PO) ensure timely grievance redressal.
• The use of KOBO Toolbox remains integral for data collection during site visits, GAP consultations, and Social Impact Monitoring tracking.
• HEC has completed the temporary water supply project, covering 14 packages across 10 communities.
• Project Office is working closely with CFPs on the Long-term biodiversity planning.

The Solomon Islands Government expressed its sincere gratitude to the Asian Development Bank for its strategic, technical and financial contributions to the Tina River Hydropower Project. ADB has been a critical partner in supporting the development of clean energy infrastructure, community benefit programs, climate resilience, and environmental and social safeguards.

The project’s Component 1 and 2 financing is secured through concessional support from the following development partners:

The Concessional finance parties constant engagement reaffirms the strong working relationship between the Solomon Islands Government and its development partners in delivering a transformative renewable energy project that will benefit generations to come

Project Manager and CBSP-2 highlighted that TRHDP continues to pioneer an inclusive model of infrastructure development through its innovative Community Benefit Sharing and social licensing approach. By piloting benefit-sharing mechanisms with resource owners, the project not only ensures local participation but also generates valuable lessons for future national initiatives. These efforts have enabled continued construction progress through sustained community cooperation. The establishment of the Community Benefit Sharing Fund set to deliver USD 300,000 annually from 2028 will directly support local development priorities. Since 2019, the project has delivered tangible investments in rural electrification, clean water, vocational training, and income-generating infrastructure. This integrated framework is laying the foundation for lasting sustainability, stronger community ownership, and a national benchmark for equitable renewable energy development.

For more information, contact:
Communications Officer: Jeanine Gadepeta email: jeanine.gadepeta@tina-hydro.com  
Tina Hydropower development project  
+677 25133 
About Tina River Hydro Development Project (TRHDP)

The first large scale renewable energy project for the Solomon Islands delivering benefits such as more affordable electricity and improved accessibility to cleaner, more reliable energy sources for communities now and in the future. It is being implemented by the Solomon Island Government with financing and support from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Asian Development Bank, the Government of Australia, the Green Climate Fund, Korea EX-IM Economic Development Cooperation Fund, and the World Bank.

Find out more on www.tina-hydro.com

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