The Tina River Hydropower Development Project’s investment in and support of local businesses during the preparation and construction phases of the project continue to have far-reaching positive effects. For Solomon Sheet Steel, a family-owned business and a prominent building materials supplier and manufacturer in the Solomon Islands for over 40 years, the partnership with the national project has allowed to business to again prosper after a difficult few years impacted by the effects of the global pandemic.  Currently employing approximately 400 workers, this multi-faceted company specializing in steel, cement, and building materials has been able to expand its workforce due to …

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Bali, Indonesia 08 November – Delegates representing over 43 countries and more than 300 companies arrived in Bali, Indonesia last week for the World Hydropower Congress 2023 with the Ministry of Mines, Energy, and Rural Electrification (MMERE) invited to represent the Solomon Islands Government. Permanent Secretary Chris Vehe took the stage to share the Solomon Islands journey to renewable energy through the Tina River Hydropower Development Project and discussed how to transform climate ambition into action.  As a recognised leader in the field of sustainable energy, Mr. Vehe participated as a panellist, sharing his expertise and insights on the pivotal role of …

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Water Level and Flow Monitoring at the Tina River reservoir site has been successfully completed by EPC contractors, Hyundai Engineering Company (HEC) after the team, led by HEC Senior Design Engineer Mr. Oh Myung Hwan, camped down at the dam site over a weeklong period.  They were tasked to conduct hydrology collection and monitoring to validate the data captured by the transmitters which were installed several months ago and sample the river water, which happens at regular intervals, to carry out suspended sediment analysis at the HEC Laboratory.  HEC Specialist Titus Siapu collecting data Supporting Mr Oh Myung Hwan was Titus …

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On October 15, International Day of Rural Women is being recognised around the world bringing attention to the unique challenges faced by women in rural communities.  Issues such as limited access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities are widespread and are often compounded by environmental and cultural factors that can prevent rural women from fully participating in social, political, and economic systems.   For women living in the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) catchment, they also face challenges which can hinder their ability to pursue viable livelihood options. Some of these include a lack of skills and training opportunities, access …

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HONIARA – The commencement of construction activities at the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) site would not have been possible without local company, Solomon Islands Explosive Ordnance Technicians (SIEOTEC), who have been responsible for the clearance of Unexploded Ordinances (UXOs) from World War 2 (WWII) within the project zone. SIEOTEC was established in 2012 and its team includes local UXO experts. It is the first local UXO commercial   firm which is responsible for ensuring that the Project’s construction sites are free from UXO. UXO clearance is a part of the Construction Environmental and Social Management Plan and must be …

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Construction works on the access roads to the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) dam site (Lot 2-2) and power station (Lot 3-1) is progressing, despite initial delays which included clearance of the final set of Construction Environment & Social Management Plans (C-ESMPs), difficult terrain conditions and bad weather.  Due to naturally steep slopes in many sections, the access roads require significant excavation works removing large volumes of soil.  The total amount soil removed so far is equal to 53 football fields with Lot 2-2 excavating 47,762m3 and Lot 3-1, 20,702m3. The removed materials have been transported to designated disposal …

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HONIARA – Hyundai Engineering Company (HEC), the engineering procurement construction (EPC) contractor of the Tina River Hydropower Development Project has recorded an increase in the number of its female employees in the first quarter of 2023, as the project progresses. Through the guidance of lenders like World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the project continues to work with women and their communities on executing the Gender Action Plan (GAP) which promotes equal opportunities for both women and men to participate and receive project benefits and encourages employment to achieve at least 30% recruitment of women during construction. Tina …

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After years of preparation work, the final construction Environmental and Safeguard Management Plan (C-ESMP) for the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) has been approved last month.  The Project’s holding company Tina Hydro Ltd. (THL) and its construction partner Hyundai Engineering Company (HEC), along with Lenders and Solomon Island Government officials agreed on the Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) which is required for main construction works relating to the dam and power station, as a part of the lenders mission in Honiara during the week of 22nd-26th May 2023  The much-anticipated SBD1.5 billion renewable energy project has endured a long and …

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Two schools within the Mbahomea region of the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) catchment are now able to access water and electricity, thanks to the Community Benefits Sharing Project (CBSP).  Rate Community High School and Perch Christian Academy (Extension) in Tina Village are the first two schools in catchment communities to see early benefits from the Project; well before the infrastructure has been built and the hydropower is flowing. These benefits come under Component 2 of the CBSP relating to improving investment in community infrastructure. The delivery of this CBSP component will not only benefits for schools, but the …

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HONIARA – Work on the Community Benefit Sharing Project (CBSP) water supply systems for various communities in the Tina River Hydropower catchment area is nearing completion with another local contractor, FeliceBerrigan (FB) Quantity Surveyors engaged to complete the plumbing and construction activities.   Section 6 of the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) implementation agreement states, where possible that the Project is to engage local contractors, including within the CBSP programs. This stipulation is in place to help ensure local companies like FB Quantity Surveyors also benefit from the development of the Hydropower Project with more work opportunities which will in …

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HONIARA – After almost 40 years, Abilyn Chenisi and her fellow villagers living in Horohotu 2 (Verabariki) Central Guadalcanal, can now finally enjoy access from a reliable and fresh water supply at their homes, thanks to the Community Benefits Sharing Project (CBSP). For decades, the residents of Verabariki village have had to travel close to half a kilometre to fetch water from the Tina River, which was often contaminated and prone to seasonal variations. Now, because of the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP), the daily reliance on the river is a thing of the past. The task of collecting …

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(HONIARA). State Owned Enterprise, Solomon Power has recently energised 131 houses in the Mbahomea zone for Tina River Hydropower Development Project catchment communities which was funded under the Community Benefit Sharing Project (CBSP).  The CBSP, an initiative of the Tina River Hydropower Development Project through the Ministry of Mines, Energy, and Rural Electrification (MMERE), was created with a mandate to provide positive impacts in the project area by the investment in basic services and infrastructure for the local communities. The 11kV/415Vnetwork transmission line extension works from Black Post Road and the energising of households within the Tina Benefits Share Communities, …

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One local company working with the Tina River Hydropower Development Project is changing the way the traditionally male dominated security service industry operates in Solomon Islands under the leadership of a female owner and manager. Local firm, Mid-land Security Services (MSS), are providing services to the project as a sub-contractor under the management of female owner, Irene Atali Vouza, 58, of the Sarahi Tribe in Central Guadalcanal. Ireen owns and runs MSS with the assistance of her daughter, Elsie Len Bako, 26, as the Human Resources Manager (HRM) and Supervisor. Founded in June 2021, Ms Bako said the firm’s first …

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HONIARA – The registration of the Tina Community Benefit Share Fund (CBSF) is on track, following a one-day consultation and the appointment of an interim-committee in mid-February 2023. CBSF is one of the obligations of the national government to be rolled out through the pilot Community Benefits Sharing Project (CBSP) for the host communities of the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP).  The CBSF is an innovative approach to benefit-sharing that will ensure that stream of benefits can flow to the host communities through revenue generated by the sale of electricity from the hydro power facility. It will continue to …

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The Concrete batching plant for the Tina River Hydropower Development Project has gone through its final installation work and is expected to be in full operation by January 2023.   Manas Ranjan Samal, Hyundai Electrical Engineering (HEC) Electrical Manager confirmed that the installation of the concrete facility is almost complete and will soon begin the process of testing and commissioning.   “We are now completing the electrical works and testing will commence in the coming weeks for commissioning.”   The plant will produce different grades of concretes for various works based on the mixed design taking into consideration the concrete slump, grade, and …

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