Upper Tina Catchment: Lasi Tribal Group Advances Discussions on Protected Areas Proposal for Barahau-Longa Area.

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Community elects Management Committee and advances PA process in Upper Tina CatchmentHoniara, Solomon Islands -26 February 2026 – The Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) Project Office, in collaboration with government partners and tribal leaders, facilitated a two-day Protected Areas (PA) awareness and consultation with the Lasi Tribal Group at Turaranga Community, Vulolo Ward, Central Guadalcanal on 25–26 February 2026. The consultation concluded with participants expressing support in principle for progressing the area identified by the Lasi Tribal Group as Barahau Longa through the Protected Areas Act 2010 process. Regarding PA Category Type, the preferred category is the Resource Management …

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Empowering the Next Generation: Betivatu Students Celebrate International Women’s Day

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13th March 2026 Students of Betivatu Community High School in Malango Ward, Central Guadalcanal participated in a special programme yesterday to mark International Women’s Day 2026, celebrated globally under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.” The event was organized through a collaboration between the Tina River Hydropower Development Project and UNICEF, bringing together Form 4 to Form 6 students for a half-day programme focused on rights awareness, equality, and youth empowerment. The programme began with interactive discussions facilitated by UNICEF on human rights and justice. Students explored the meaning of fairness, respect, and dignity, and reflected …

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UK High Commissioner Visits Tina Hydro Development Project to Observe Major Progress.

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The United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency. Paul Turner, visited the Tina Hydro Development Project (THDP) site on 20th February 2026, accompanied by a team of UK energy specialists, to observe firsthand the progress of the landmark renewable energy project.The visit commenced at Garivera Campsite, where the delegation received an induction presentation outlining the project’s construction progress, safety protocols, and key engineering milestones. The team then proceeded to the Dam Site, before concluding their visit at the Powerhouse Site, which includes the main tunnel system currently under development.As a major contributor to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) …

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Upper Tina Catchment Consultations: Charting a Way Forward.

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From 8–12 December 2025, tribal leaders of the Upper Tina Catchment (UTC) gathered in a series of consultations aimed at strengthening collaboration, resolving longstanding issues, and advancing the establishment of Protected Areas (PAs) within the catchment. The purpose of these consultations is to provide awareness on the Protected Areas process to tribal leaders and representatives, and to hear their views on the future of conservation in the Upper Tina Catchment.The consultations were held across two key communities. The Ngongoti Community hosted discussions on 8 and 10 December, while the Namoraoni Community welcomed leaders on 11 and 12 December.Building Understanding Across …

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𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭.

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President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Mr. Masato Kanda, has described the Tina River Hydropower Project as a transformational initiative following his visit to the project site on 16th February 2026.Speaking during the visit, President Kanda said once completed, the project will deliver clean and reliable power to Honiara, supplying more than two-thirds of the city’s electricity needs.“This 15-megawatt plant will mark a major milestone in shifting Solomon Islands to clean energy,” President Kanda said. “This shift will lower electricity costs, helping businesses and communities thrive while ensuring long-term sustainability.”During his visit, President Kanda viewed construction progress from a …

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CBSP Hosts Induction Training for Community Advisory Committee Members.

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Honiara, Solomon Islands — January 20, 2026 — The Community Benefit Sharing Project (CBSP) successfully conducted its induction training for members of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) under its community benefit share fund (CBSF) component at the CBSP Conference Room. The training introduced the committee’s mission, vision, and responsibilities, ensuring members are equipped for their roles under the CBSF.The Fund, which will be derived off revenues from the Tina Dam starting in 2028 aims to support socio-economic development and infrastructure community projects in Malango and Bahomea. By promoting sustainable development and fostering community participation, the Fund ensures that benefits from …

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World Bank and ADB Conduct Joint Monthly Compliance and Progress Visit.

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Honiara, Monday 26 January — A joint team from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) visited the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) sites as part of their regular monthly monitoring program. Representatives from the Project Office’s Environment and Social (E&S) team accompanied the delegation throughout the visit.The mission focused on two key project locations: the Dam Site and the Powerhouse Site. During the visit, the teams assessed compliance with environmental and social safeguards and reviewed construction progress being undertaken by Tina Hydropower Limited (THL) and Hyundai Engineering Company (HEC).The monthly site visit forms an essential part …

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Lenders’ Technical Advisors (LTA) Wrap Up Final Mission to TRHDP in 2025.

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The Lenders’ Technical Advisors (LTA) Norconsult have concluded their final engagement for 2025 with stakeholders of the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP). The mission brought together the Project Office (PO) representing the Solomon Islands Government (SIG), Tina Hydropower Limited (THL), Hyundai Engineering Corporation (HEC), World Bank (WB) funding parties’ representatives, the Owner’s Engineer (OE), and other key partners to review overall project progress, address priority issues requiring further attention, and agree on the next steps.Throughout the mission, the team reviewed several technical and safeguard priorities, including the status of powerhouse foundation design actions, slope stabilisation measures, and the updated …

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Advance Environment and Safeguard training 2025- Heritage Park, Honiara, Solomon Islands.

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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) environment specialist and consultants invited personnel from ADB-funded projects across the country to attend a three-day training session that focused mainly on advanced environment and safeguards. The training program provided participants with the opportunity to enhance their skills and understanding of the environment and social safeguards in accordance with ADB standards. Among many participants from the Ministries and ADB-funded projects across the country, Mandus Boselalu, Roland Pharkatonu, and Daniel T. Saomatangi of the Tina River Hydro Development Project (TRHDP), Project Office (PO), and Environment and Social Safeguards team (ESS) actively participated in the three-day program.The …

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Tina River Hydropower Project Promotes Women’s Participation and Leadership.

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Empowering women is more than creating opportunities, it means amplifying their voices, strengthening their leadership, and providing platforms where they can thrive. The formation of the Malatoha Women’s Association reflects the dedication and leadership of the women of Malatoha, whose commitment has been central to driving this initiative forward. Their efforts were supported with guidance from the Solomon Islands National Council of Women (SINCW), the Guadalcanal Provincial Council of Women (GPCW), and the Gender Team of the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP).On Tuesday, 18 November 2025, TRHDP, through its Gender Component, facilitated a consultation meeting at Mataruka Community Hall. …

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Commencement of the mid-term socio-economic survey for the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP).

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The Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) commenced the mid-term socio-economic field survey on 10th November 2025, led by Mr. Gerard Fitzgerard (International) and Consultant) and Mr Kellington Simeon, the local team lead, with the support of trained enumerators and the Project Office ESS team.The purpose of the survey is to assess the socio-economic changes among the project-affected communities since the baseline study conducted in 2020. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of the project’s mitigation measures and benefits-sharing mechanisms while also providing key insights for informed ongoing social impact monitoring.The first week of field data collection was conducted for …

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Project Office TRHDP Participation for Global Solutions in Hydropower.

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Hydro 2025 – Thessaloniki, GreeceFrom 21st to 24th October 2025, global leaders, engineers, financiers, and environmental experts gathered in Thessaloniki for Hydro2025. This was a landmark event focused on exchanging challenges and opportunities for shaping the future of hydropower in a changing world. Among the many contributors, delegates, and power producers we were proud to see the Tina Hydropower Development Project Office (Mr. John Walenenea JNR-Biodiversity Officer PO) from the Solomon Islands actively participate, share insights from the Pacific and Learnings from global best practices. Photo 1 –  Discussion on Hydrology and Flood.The Conference included a total of 37 sessions …

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Completion of Habusi Water Supply System Marks Significant Milestone.

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The construction of the Habusi Water Supply System has been successfully completed, representing a major achievement in improving access to safe and reliable water for the residents of Habusi and surrounding riverside communities. The newly installed gravity-fed water system now delivers clean water to four communities, benefiting an estimated 114 individuals residing below the powerhouse site. This development ensures a sustainable water source for local households, eliminating the need for residents to travel long distances to fetch drinking water. Community members have already begun enjoying the benefits of this improved infrastructure. One village elder expressed appreciation for the project, stating …

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Project Office Participation in World Bank Coffee Series on Effective E&S Monitoring & Supervision.

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Honiara, Solomon Islands — October 31, 2025 | World Bank’s Environmental and Social (ES) Coffee SeriesThe Project Office (PO) Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) was honoured to attend and participate in the 8th session of the Coffee Series conducted in the World Bank office in Honiara. The session, themed “Effective ES Supervision & Monitoring,” ran from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM and brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, LMCP, SIRAP2, Solomon Power, Solomon Water, and other project management units.Leading the presentation was Khyn Wynn from the World Bank (WB), sharing a brief …

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Kickstart of Mid-Term Socio-Economic Study for Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP).

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The Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP)- Project Office (PO) has commenced the Mid Term Socio Economic Study under the Social Impact Monitoring Plan. The work is being led by Mr. Gerard Fitzgerald (International Socio-Economic Consultant) and Mr. Kellington Simeon (Local Team lead), supported by enumerators and Project Office ESS Team. Photo 1 –  Gerard Fitzgerald (front, far right) and Mr. Kellington Simeon (second from right)Day 1 of the training took place in the PO Conference room to prepare the team to conduct a socio-economic baseline survey at Malatoha, Malango and Belaha. The purpose of this study is to measure …

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Inspiring Youths: Honiara High School Students Visit Tina Hydro Project.

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A group of bright Form 7 students from Honiara High School recently visited the Tina Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) Site in Central Guadalcanal on 29 October 2025, gaining an up-close look at how a renewable energy project is implemented. Travelling from the capital to Malango Ward, the students accompanied by school staff were warmly welcomed by representatives from the Project Office (PO) and Tina Hydropower Limited (THL). The visit provided a valuable opportunity for students to learn about the real-world application of renewable energy, environmental, and social management. Photo 1 –  TRHDP Project Office Project Manager, Mr Pradip Verma, briefing students …

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SINU Faculty of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Visits Tina River Hydropower Project Sites.

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The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Faculty of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (FAFF) Students and staff, together with the Tina River Hydro Development Project (TRHDP) stakeholders, conducted a joint visit to the Project Components 1 & 2 on 28 October 2025.The delegation, led by the Environment &Social team from Tina Hydro Limited (THL) and Project Office (PO) TRHDP-MMERE, received a comprehensive briefing on the project’s development progress and the environmental and social challenges faced during the construction phase. Key discussion focused on issues such as Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP), and the restoration of cleared …

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Tina River Hydropower Development Project Represented at the Asian Development Bank Regional Workshop on Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH) in Thailand.

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The Tina River Hydropower Development Project was represented by Gender Focal Point Ms. Ella Wairiu at the Asian Development Bank Regional Workshop on Addressing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment, held during 15–17 October 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.The workshop brought together over 40 participants, including project managers, gender and safeguards specialists, and national consultants from five countries: Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and Tajikistan.From the Solomon Islands, the delegation also included representatives from:Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family AffairsSenior Secondary Education Improvement Project under the Ministry of Education and Human Resources DevelopmentAt the workshop, Ms. Wairiu shared experiences …

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Concessional Financing Partners Conclude Safeguard Mission to Tina River Hydropower (TRHDP) Project.

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The Concessional Financing Partners (CFPs), led by the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), have wrapped up a week-long safeguard mission to the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP). The mission brought together the Project Office (PO) representing the Solomon Islands Government (SIG), Tina Hydropower Limited (THL), Hyundai Engineering Corporation (HEC),  Sinohydro, and other partners to review environmental and social performance and agree on the next steps.The program began on Tuesday, 23 September, with the CFP delegation holding its first official meeting with the PO, which represents the SIG. Discussions concentrated on the implementation of the Construction …

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Strengthening Conservation Efforts with Institutional Stakeholders.

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Honiara, 25 September 2025 — A multi-stakeholder meeting was convened at the MMERE Board Room to advance conservation efforts in the Upper Tina Catchment (UTC). The session brought together representatives from the Project Office (PO), the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) – Environment Conservation Division (ECD), and the Concessional Finance Parties (CFPs) Mission Team, from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.The session acknowledged ECD’s role in protected-area management and addressed practical steps to accelerate work in the UTC, noting documentation gaps (including the absence of formal Protected Area submissions to date), institutional constraints …

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