Construction |
Bringing power to the people
Sarina Laurence, Communications Consultant for the Tina River Hydropower Development Project in the Solomon Islands, gives an update on construction at the scheme that is giving hope to an entire nation
Above: Lot 1 access road. Widening of the access road corridor to allow the transportation of construction equipment and components for the hydro dam and power station facilities later in the year
IN SUCH CHALLENGING TIMES, impacts and delays from the pandemic are unravelling infrastructure construction all over the world. But one renewable energy project, affectionally known as ‘Tina’, is giving hope to an entire nation. After a decade of struggles, June 2021 will be remembered as a significant month for the Tina River Hydropower Development Project and the Solomon Islands, with construction officially commencing on the US$240 million renewable energy project, located approximately 26km outside the capital city Honiara. For more than a decade, Tina has forged ahead
despite ongoing obstacles and hurdles. From the early days of meandering through complicated land acquisition processes, to securing ongoing funding, this renewable energy project has stood the test of time. The will of the Solomon Islands Government, along with the many lenders and donors supporting
its vision to build a renewable and sustainable future, is very commendable.
Big ask Delivering a project of this magnitude was already
a big ask for a small developing nation. Add into the mix an unprecedented global pandemic, the recent milestone of construction starting is even more monumental. In June, the final hurdles were overcome with the much-anticipated approval of the Construction Environmental and Social Safeguard Management Plans (ESMPs), giving the ‘green light’ for the construction of the Lot 1 access road to begin. Within the week, another significant milestone was reached with the signing of a finance agreement by the Australian Government worth USD$22.9 million to fund the 66KV transmission system component of the project.
“It has been a difficult decade for Tina, but we have never given up,” said Solomon Island Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. “We have, with the guidance of our experienced lenders and partners, taken no shortcuts or left anything to chance. Each part of this project has been well planned to ensure the future prosperity of our nation.”
Green light for construction One of the final major hurdles overcome for the
project has been in finalising the ESMPs. Although lengthy, the process of reviewing and fine-tuning detailed plans, led by Tina Hydro Limited (the holding company that owns and operates the infrastructure), the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Project team, lenders and global experts had formed an integral part of the planning phase for the project. Like many other infrastructure
Left and below: Construction gets underway at Tina River Hydro
36 | August 2021 |
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