Photo 1 — PSC Meeting Group Photo Project Manager- Mr. Pradip Verma presenting the progress to the Project Steering Committee.
The Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) held its Q2 2026 Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting on Wednesday, 20 May 2026 at the Heritage Park Hotel, Honiara. The meeting brought together senior representatives from the Solomon Islands Government, development finance partners, and the project team to review implementation progress since the last PSC meeting on 4 March 2026.
The meeting was attended in person and virtually by senior representatives from the Solomon Islands Government (MNPDC, MMERE, MOFT, MECDM), the developer Tina Hydropower Limited (THL), Solomon Islands Electricity Authority (SIEA), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), alongside the Project Office team and financial advisors.
A comprehensive presentation was delivered by the Project Office covering key areas of project progress. Topics included construction progress at the Dam, Powerhouse, Tunnel, Access Roads, and Tunnel Boring Machine Launching Yard; Dam Safety Advisory Panel (DSAP) updates; Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) implementation; the Gender Action Plan (GAP), Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), and Social Impact Monitoring Plan (SIMP); all four components of the Community Benefits Sharing Project Phase 2 (CBSP2); Upper Tina Catchment conservation and Protected Area tribal consultations; the Transmission System (Component 3) and the Infrastructure Works Contract (IWC); Project Office financials, the revised Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) 2026 , and the status of additional funding; Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract amendments; and communications and media updates.
Overall construction progress has reached 30.60% as of 10 May 2026. The RCC Cofferdam has been built to its design elevation of EL. 134.5m, and surge tower excavation is complete to a depth of 31.82m. Powerhouse base slab and wall structure works are progressing between Levels 2 and 3. The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) segment mould design is complete with mould fabrication and segment production now underway, and the TBM assembly team from China is expected in Honiara in early June 2026. Geotechnical consultants Mott MacDonald have been engaged to analyse 11 boreholes at the Dam Right Abutment, with a revised construction schedule targeted for mid-August 2026.
Photo 2 — Discussion on progress by the World Bank Energy Specialist and Project Office team in discussion with Steering Committee members.
Several key actions were agreed at the meeting. The Project Office will send a timeline document and explanatory slides to MECDM to support Green Climate Fund (GCF) advocacy at the upcoming GCF Council meeting, and will prepare a project background and history slide pack for the Permanent Secretary of MNPDC and arrange a site visit. The Communications Officer will contact schools to launch the Tunnel Boring Machine naming competition. The Project Office will also follow up with the Chairman of the Tina Core Land Company (TCLC) Board on the pending Board meeting, and SIEA is expected to execute the IWC contract by end of May 2026.
The PSC meeting concluded at 12 noon. The meeting reinforced the strong momentum across all project components and the collaborative commitment of all partners to delivering the Tina River Hydropower Development Project Solomon Islands’ first large-scale renewable energy initiative on time and in full compliance with all environmental and social safeguards.
Photo 3 — Representatives from SIG ministries, development partners, and the Project Office at the PSC meeting.
The Tina River Hydropower Development Project is led by the Solomon Islands 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.
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
A National Project of Solomon Islands | Tina River Hydropower Tina River Hydropower is a National Project of Solomon Islands and has as its objective to provide more affordable and reliable energy options to Honiara. www.tina-hydro.com |
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