| Construction
schemes around the world, ESMPs are required to ensure appropriate measures are in place to minimise and mitigate adverse construction and operational impacts of projects on people and the environment.
Local benefits
At the end of June, the engineering, procurement and construction contractor, Hyundai Engineering Company (HEC) with its team of expats on the ground and a local labour force, began turning soil on Lot 1 of access road. This work is broken into two parts to create access to the hydropower facility site for construction and then provide ongoing access to the facility once commercial operation of the scheme commences. The access road is co-funded by the Australian Government and Green Climate Fund at a cost of US $26 million. Construction will include upgrade of the existing 13.2km road which makes up Lot 1 and Lot 2 which is 5.5km of green field road through a steep terrain that leads to the dam and power station. Along with providing essential access, this initial construction will also bring benefits to the local community. These early benefits include work opportunities and the ability to be trained to learn new labour skills, improve infrastructure for the catchment communities and other economic activities which will bring income to the area.
Australian backing In the same week, another major milestone was
achieved with the announcement of funding support from the Australian Government to the tune of USD$22.9 million for the Tina River Hydropower Transmission System. The transmission system funding has been made possible through a partnership between the newly created Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) and the Solomon Islands Electricity Authority. The system, anticipated to be completed in 2023, includes a 22km transmission line to connect the Tina River Hydropower site to the electricity grid. The final system will have a transmission capacity of 15MW, equivalent to the generating capacity of the Tina project and is expected to deliver 70 to 80% of Honiara’s electricity demand.
Australia has been an enduring partner with the Solomon Islands in the development and implementation of this project. In addition to the AIFFP financing for the transmission system, Australia has already contributed millions of dollars to Tina in recognition of the positive economic and environmental benefits this project would bring to Solomon Islands.
Australian High Commissioner to the Solomon
Islands, Dr Lachlan Strahan said: “Australia is a proud supporter and longstanding partner in the Tina River Hydropower Development Project. Once completed, this nation-building project will provide more reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly electricity for Solomon Islanders, and demonstrate Solomon Islands’ ability to deliver large scale public private partnerships.” “Renewable energy is a critical part of our collective response to combating climate change,”
he goes on to say. “Once it is operational, Tina River will be making its own important contribution to keeping emissions down.”
Power to the people While construction excitement is now the talk of
the town, in the background a team of experts is working tirelessly to achieve one of the project’s main aspirations; to give back to the catchment communities through a Community Benefit Sharing Project (CBSP). This unique programme is designed to enhance the positive impacts to the communities in the project area by the investment in basic services and infrastructure and to foster support and cooperation by the communities towards the success of the project.
Operational in the communities for the past two years, the programme has adopted an innovative approach to benefit-sharing which provide a stream of benefits to the project host communities for the lifetime of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and beyond. An example of the early benefit sharing success can be seen in the current pre- employment training of over 300 people, who are eligible individuals of the benefit-sharing area. This programme has been designed to support members of communities in the project area to access employment opportunities created by Tina during and after construction. At the halfway mark after six successful training sessions, 128 people have graduated with opportunities as a result of the training.
Green Recovery
With construction starting on Lot 1 access road, it’s time to focus on how Tina will contribute to the green recovery for this developing country. As the Solomon Islands’ first large-scale infrastructure project to be developed under a public-private partnership, its success is a key component in the next stage of economic security for the country. Furthermore, the project will help the Solomon Islands to transition away from diesel-powered energy, strengthen energy security, and support the Solomon Islands contribution towards international efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With the project now in its construction phase, the Solomon Islands Government remains committed to the long-term future of delivering affordable renewable energy to the country and its people. ●
Above: Tina River catchment
Below: The signing ceremony of the transmission system funding with Australian High Commissioner Dr Lachlan Strahan and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare
www.waterpowermagazine.com | August 2021 | 37
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