GPRCL shares business experience with Roha members

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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

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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

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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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Sogavare assured support for Tina River Hydro Project

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Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare has been impressed with the progress made by the Tina Hydro Development Project team when the group met and briefed him on the developments. The group included Project Manager Mark France, Strategic Adviser Paul Roughan and Fred Conning, Technical Adviser. During the briefing, the Prime Minister was told that the Tina Hydro Development has the potential to generate 100 percent of Honiara’s power demand during the wet season or 50 percent during dry season. He was told the US$120 million hydro project will be operational by 2018, if all goes according to plan with the …

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We Support Tina Hydro: Kikolo

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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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The Tina River experience: Power (only) through partnership

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Genuine partnerships are not just important for sustainable development; they are essential. This has been the lesson of Tina River Hydro in the Solomon Islands, where a flagship renewable energy project is approaching construction. Tina Hydro will displace more than 80 per cent of the electrical energy currently supplied by diesel generation. It is also now beginning to catalyse additional partnerships which are set to enable further sustainable development outcomes, such as the integrated management and protection of large tracts of unique highland rainforest. Both of these themes were shared at a side event on Wednesday at the SIDS Conference …

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Tina River Core Land Owners Give Consent

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The four core landowning tribes of the proposed Tina River Hydro Project have all signed the Process Agreement Wednesday last week to consent to government acquire their land for the Tina Hydro development. Their consent marked the end of several months of negotiations between the core land tribes and the government through the Tina River Hydro Development Project Office. Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo thanked the tribes for their cooperation and understanding in supporting the government in this milestone development. “We see the success in building the hydro pointing to the beginning of a new era in sustainable development in …

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Communities Reinforce Support For Tina Hydro

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Communities in Central Guadalcanal have reiterated their support for the Tina Hydro Project. This was highlighted by chiefs and leaders in eleven communities visited by community awareness workers of the Tina Hydro Project from 2 – 9 December. Chiefs and villagers welcomed the prospect of employment opportunities, community businesses, improved infrastructure such as roads, water, schools and clinics as developments stemming from the Tina Hydro Project. The Tina River Hydro Project is a major national energy project designed to meet 80% of Honiara’s electricity demands. Construction work on the project is expected to start in late 2015 and power is …

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Minister Declares Land Acquisition

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Tina River Hydro Land Acquisition Process The Minister of Lands, Housing and Survey, the Honourable Joseph Onika, has made a declaration that a portion of land is needed for the public purpose of generating hydro-electric power for distribution by Solomon Islands Electricity Authority within Guadalcanal. A copy of the declaration was published in the Solomon Islands’ Government Gazette on 21 August 2014.This declaration begins the acquisition process under Division 2 of Part V of the Land and Titles Act. What is the effect of the declaration? The declaration gives the Commissioner of Lands the right to use and occupy the …

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Tina Signals New Future

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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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Core Land Tribes Support Project Process

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The four tribes who own the land where the proposed Tina Hydro will be located have rubbished media statements made by their former Member of Parliament Walton Naezon. A representative of the Kochiabolo tribe, one of the four tribes owning land in the core of the Tina Project, George Vari, said customary land is owned by tribes not the community of Bahomea or Malango. He went on to point out that land is not owned by created bodies such as Houses of Chiefs or Landowner Councils. “We have the right to do what we want with our land, not anybody …

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Tina Hydro Development Project Completes Feasibility Studies

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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

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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”

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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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Bahomea House of Chiefs looks forward to Tina Hydro Development

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The Bahomea House of Chiefs has been greatly encouraged by the recent visit of the Prime Minister to Marava in the Bahomea area. As the host community for the Tina Hydro Project, the Bahomea region has been concerned at the potential effects and impacts of the Hydro, but the PM’s delegation visiting us has given us reassurance that the government is serious about this project. We are honoured by the visit of the PM to our meeting at Marava on Saturday and pledge to continue making progress as landowners and communities. The Chairman of the Bahomea House of Chiefs , …

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Solomon Islands: Renewable Energy, UN General Assembly

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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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Maelanga: Tina Hydro Offers Great Potential

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The government’s objective is to ensure that the community experiences real benefits from the presence of the project in their territory at all stages of the project from development to operations,” says deputy prime minister Manasseh Maelanga. He was speaking about the Tina Hydro power Development project Summit In Auckland, New Zealand. Mr. Maelanga said that the unprecedented nature of Tina Hydro has therefore demanded an unprecedented approach of “Power through Partnership” to obtain and maintain ” the free prior and informed consent” of the indigenous landowning peoples of the Tina River region. The Tina Hydro has had to take …

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Prime Minister: People must benefit from national project

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Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo says strong partnerships between government and the people in national projects like the proposed Tina River Hydro are crucial.Prime Minister Lilo made this statement after being briefed about the progress of the Tina River Hydro Development Project last week. “It is very important that grassroots feel the impact of benefits from these national projects. “In light of the positive updates, I am very encouraged by the approach to benefits which has seen real results delivered directly to the grassroots landowner communities,” he said. The Prime Minister’s comment relates to the Ministry of Education and Human …

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Landowners Extend Access Agreement

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Landowners of the Tina River Hydro Development Project have agreed to extend access to the proposed dam site for another 18 months from February 2013 when the current access agreement expires. The extension is necessary as important technical studies remain to be finalised.The technical studies are required to determine the final location and construction methods for the hydro project dam and associated infrastructures. Some of these outstanding works include geotechnical studies of local materials at two new proposed sites some distance upstream from the location of option 6 previously determined at the end of first feasibility studies. The two new …

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Government Support for Tina River Hydro Project Communities Starts

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The “whole of government” approach supporting Tina River Hydro Project has started with the education sector. Communities in the Tina River Communities of Bahomea and Malango in Central Guadalcanal have been targeted by the Ministry of Education for priority in developing primary school facilities. The Ministry of Education has already started building three classrooms in three different areas of Malango and Bahomea. One is at Betivatu School in Malango and the other two are at Antioch and Rate in Bahomea. This initiative materialized after a government Taskforce meeting in September which heard that government services have not been getting to …

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