Project Steering Committee Meeting – Thursday 21 August 2025.

The Project Steering Committee for the Tina River Hydropower Development Project convened at the Heritage Park Hotel to review progress since this year May Project Steering Committee meeting and agree next steps across all project components.

Chaired by the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE), the session brought together senior officials and partner organisations, including the MMERE Project Office, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT), the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination, Solomon Power, Guadalcanal Provincial Government, Tina Hydropower Limited (THL),  and Concessional Financing Parties - the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank, and the Government of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Proceedings opened with an update from Solomon Power on the transmission system, followed by the Project Office’s presentation on Components 1, 2 and 4 and the Community Benefit Sharing Project (CBSP2) progress. The Steering Committee noted a steady construction progress and discussed schedule interfaces, procurement pipelines and operational readiness activities planned for the coming months.

In line with CFPs safeguards, the Committee reviewed the implementation of the Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) and contractor Construction ESMPs. Discussions covered occupational health and safety, erosion and sediment control, community access, stakeholder engagement and labour management. The PSC reiterated the expectation that observations raised during routine monitoring are closed out promptly and verified through time-bound corrective actions.

Acknowledging the complexities typical of a multi-component infrastructure Project, the PSC emphasised clear roles, streamlined communications and disciplined cross-team coordination to maintain momentum. The meeting agreed a set of actions to: Sequence critical activities to reduce interface risk across work fronts. Prioritise OHS supervision and contractor training, with targeted audits. Maintain community engagement in accordance with the Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Plan andTrack environmental performance with regular reporting to financing partners.

The MMERE Project Office will oversee implementation of these actions with THL, the EPC contractor and Solomon Power, and will continue to disclose progress to concessional financing partners through periodic reports. The PSC welcomed the collaborative approach shown by all parties and underscored its commitment to safe construction, sound environmental management and transparent engagement as the project advances.

Caption: Dr. Chris Vehe Sagapoa - PS MMERE Welcoming participants for the Project Steering Committee Meeting

Caption: Mr. Pradip Verma – Project Manager PO Delivering the Project Progress Presentation

Caption: Mr. Francis Kapini – CBSP2 Project Manager presenting the community benefit sharing Project Phase-2 Progress.

Caption: View of Project Stakeholders from MOFT, THL, DFAT and World Bank and ADB.

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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