NIPS Welcomes GCF Grant Approval for Tina River Hydro Development Project

NIPS Welcomes GCF Grant Approval for Tina River Hydro Development Project

The Network of Indigenous Peoples Solomons, (NIPS) welcomes the Green Climate Fund’s approval of USD86m for the Tina River Hydro Development Project recently in Sondong, South Korea. Vice President and Coordinator of NIPs, Ms Aydah Gwaena Akao, who was part of the delegation says this is a milestone for Small Island Developing States and especially the Pacific region. “What has transpired so far in the Tina River Hydro Project is the good work between indigenous land owners and community leaders; Tina River Hydro project Team; Provincial Government; National Government through the Ministries of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, …

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Green Climate Fund approves US$86 Million for Tina River Hydro Development Project in Solomon Islands

Green Climate Fund approves US$86 Million for Tina River Hydro Development Project in Solomon Islands

Significantly reduced electricity costs are one step closer with the approval of US$86 million by the board of the Green Climate Fund for the Tina River Hydropower Project. The funding approval was made in a meeting of the Fund’s board at its headquarters in Songdo, South Korea this week. Of the GCF funding, US$70 million is a low-interest loan towards the cost of building the hydro power facility, while US$16 million is grant contribution for the construction of the key access road that will link the power house and the hydropower facility to the capital city Honiara. The Green Climate …

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International Renewable Energy Agency awards concessional loan for Tina Hydro

International Renewable Energy Agency awards concessional loan for Tina Hydro

Solomon Islands has been awarded a USD15 million concessional loan for Tina Hydro Project by the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA. The award was announced during IRENA’s 2017 Assembly in Abu Dhabi last weekend. It is the first concessional loan to be approved in support to Tina Hydro, which is the largest renewable energy project ever in Solomon Islands and the largest renewable project currently being developed in the Pacific. The Tina Hydro will provide access to renewable energy for more than 100,000 people in the greater Honiara region and has been under preparation since 2011 with donor support primarily …

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Tina Hydro Office Briefs Environment and NGO Officials

Tina Hydro Office Briefs Environment and NGO Officials

The Tina Hydro Project Office on Thursday this week highlighted critical issues about the Environment and Social Impact Assessment Report to officials of the Environment division and representatives of the non government organisations in the country. Issues highlighted included the critical habitats and natural habitats; endangered and endemic species; water and downstream effects; reduced flow region; aquatic migratory species; workers and movements; and lands and compensations. A media statement from the Project Office said the presentation also highlighted the implementation of mitigation measures which will include contractual arrangements, reporting and implementation oversight. On the question of how tambu and cultural …

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Tina Hydro on track to signing a development agreement in 2016

Tina River Hydro is on track for the signing of a power purchase agreement in 2016. This was confirmed by Hon. David Day Pacha, Minister responsible for Energy and Rural Electrification today in a brief update on the Project. “Tina River Hydro is the single most important project for renewable energy in my portfolio, and I am pleased to confirm that timely progress is being made on the key work streams towards project implementation”. “Technical workstreams are proceeding to schedule, with the final detailed design nearing completion, for submission to the Government in early March. There have been several engineering …

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GPRCL shares business experience with Roha members

The spin-off businesses being enjoyed by members of the Guadalcanal Plains Resources Development Company Ltd, GPRCL, are inspiring and should be emulated. These were the words of Daniel Una, tribal chief of Roha in Central Guadalcanal. He stressed he and his members were greatly inspired by the short talk given by the Deputy Board Chairman of the GPRDCL James Votaia on Wednesday this week in Honiara.Roha is one of the five tribes that jointly hold the core land of the Tina River Hydro Development Project with Solomon Islands Government. Roha tribe accepted the Offer of Compensation from the Commissioner of …

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Korean Water, Single Bidder for Tina Hydro

The Solomon Islands Government is now preparing to engage with Korean Water (K-Water) for the development of the Tina River Hydropower Project (TRHDP) in Central Guadalcanal. K-Water was engaged after an international tender process conducted by the International Finance Corporation, IFC, ended at the beginning of 2015.Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare was updated on Monday this week about the turnout of the bids for this significant project by a five member delegation comprising International Financial Corporation officials, Shobana Venkataraman and Deveshta Ratnanayagam, World Bank Country Director, Anne Tully, Tina Hydro Project Manager, Mark France and his deputy, Fred Conning. Ms …

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Investors briefed – TRHDP Tender Heads Internationally

Eight potential investors who’ve expressed interest in building and operating the Tina River Hydro Project took part in a major project briefing in Honiara, last week. The companies participating in the event were from Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Spain and Sri Lanka. The investor’s forum marked the closing of an Expression of Interest (EOI), part of the International Competitive Tender process seeking Developers for the Tina Hydro Project. The ICT is a transparent process managed by the International Financial Corporation as Financial Transaction Advisors to the Solomon Islands Government on the Tina Hydro Project. Over 100 international companies, …

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We Support Tina Hydro: Kikolo

A representative of the Managikiki Community in Bahomea, Central Guadalcanal, says latest activities of the Tina River Hydro project within their communities are very encouraging. Chief Whitlam Kikolo, former chairman of the Bahomea House of Chiefs and strong supporter of the Tina Hydro Project, says road surveys being undertaken now show the project is indeed moving to fruition. “We have seen surveyors moving up and down among communities conducting surveys on the access road so we are once again assured the Tina Hydro project is indeed coming along,” he said. Chief Kikolo said members of the communities have been telling …

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Tina Signals New Future

Tina signals a new future for sustainable development in Solomon Islands: PMThe progress of Tina Hydro Project signals a new future for sustainable development in Solomon Islands. The Prime Minister made this statement following the signing of a Process Agreement by customary land owning tribes whose land will be used for the Tina Hydro Project. “The government takes great encouragement from the unprecedented progress of Tina Hydro. We see its success pointing to the beginning of a new era in sustainable development in the country” stated PM Lilo. He went on to pledge the government’s full support towards the project. …

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Tina Hydro Development Project Completes Feasibility Studies

The Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE) now confirms the Tina River Hydro Power Development project has completed baseline studies at the end of last year and will start the implementation phase this year, 2014. In a statement, MMERE, said the preparatory phase included Feasibility Studies, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, ESIA, a Traditional Land Identification Process and Benefit Share arrangement of the Project. “The MMERE is very encouraged by the work that is being achieved by a dedicated project office on the Tina Project and is supporting the project team in pushing the project a head.” “The …

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Tina Hydro Project Completes Feasibility Studies

The Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE) now confirms the Tina River Hydro Power Development project has completed baseline studies at the end of last year and will start the implementation phase this year, 2014. In a statement, MMERE, said the preparatory phase included Feasibility Studies, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, ESIA, a Traditional Land Identification Process and Benefit Share arrangement of the Project. “The MMERE is very encouraged by the work that is being achieved by a dedicated project office on the Tina Project and is supporting the project team in pushing the project a head.” “The …

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Prime Minister: Tina Region “A Real Model For Sustainable Development”

The Prime Minister and two of his cabinet Ministers held a successful visit to Marava in the Central Guadalcanal region this morning, as part of their tour of the Tina Hydro project area.Their fly-in visit was preceded in the morning by a meeting where the Tina River Hydro Project Office and Permanent Secretary Barnabas Anga, met the Bahomea Land Identification Committee (BLIC) at Hilltop in the Bahomea area. At this meeting the PS was presented a chupu in thanks for the government’s recognition to the work of the Bahomea Land Identification Committee (BLIC). This initial meeting was followed up by …

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Solomon Islands: Renewable Energy, UN General Assembly

Solomon Islands today pushed for a united approach to confront the ongoing energy crisis facing Least Developed Countries around the world. Solomon Islands today pushed for a united approach to confront the ongoing energy crisis facing Least Developed Countries around the world. Minister for Development Planning and Aid Coordination Connelly Sandakabatu told a high level meeting of LDC’s on Partnership for Sustainable Energy at the sidelines of the 68th UN General Assembly meeting in New York today that energy is the key for economic development. Delivering the Solomon Islands Statement on Energy Minister Sandakabatu said renewable energy is the driver …

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