| Industry insight 2023


way. I am passionate about realising these opportunities for our state and for Australia,” says Chief Executive Officer Ian Brooksbank.


Tina River milestones


Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP), the largest renewable energy project in the Solomon Islands, reached several noteworthy milestones this year. The lenders have given their clearance for the main works, approving the complete set of the Construction Environmental and Social Management Plans, while the overall detailed design for the hydropower plant has received the green light. In terms of infrastructure, steady progress has been made in road construction. Out of the total 2.7km of road needed to access the main dam, 800m have been completed. Similarly, for accessing the power plant, 900m out of the total 1.5km of road construction have been finished. The excavated earth from the road construction has been appropriately transported to a nearby disposal area, ensuring responsible waste management practices. Pilot tracks leading to the dam site and the powerhouse site, known as Lots 2-2 and 3-1, respectively, are under construction. In addition, the concrete batcher plant and the crusher plant are now complete. Environmental sustainability has been a


key priority for the Tina River Hydropower Development Project. A total of 32 environmental and social management plans have been implemented, covering various areas such as biodiversity management, waste management, hazardous materials management, spill prevention, air quality control, erosion and sediment control, and water quality monitoring. These comprehensive plans ensure that the project adheres to strict environmental standards and promptly implements corrective and preventative measures to protect the local ecosystem. The project has been dedicated to creating job opportunities, providing training, and fostering economic development for the people living in Central Guadalcanal, home to the Tina catchment area. The project protocols prioritise local communities for job positions,


ensuring that they directly benefit from the project’s progress. Training programmes have been implemented to enhance the skills and understanding of unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled staff members. Additionally, the project supports the local community by purchasing produce, such as fruits and vegetables, from them for the canteen facility at the campsite, further boosting the local economy. The year 2024 holds exciting prospects for


the project with construction of access roads continuing and expected to be completed by the first quarter of the year. The second quarter will see the commencement of diversion culverts and subsequent dam works, marking significant milestones in the project’s timeline. Furthermore, the procurement of hydropower plant equipment and the launching of the TBM access point will contribute to the project’s progress. Reflecting on 2023, spokesperson Sarina


Laurence says the project stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and determination between the Solomon Island government, who is implementing the scheme, and its partners and lenders who are providing finance and support through the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Asian Development Bank, the Government of Australia, the Green Climate Fund, Korea EX-IM Economic Development Cooperation Fund, and the World Bank. :


Personal reflections


“As we approach the end of 2023, I’ve been reflecting on my professional career that has lasted for at least 55 years,” says Stephen O Simmons from Kiawah Consulting Group in the US.


He attributes most of that success to his first eleven years at Harza Engineering Company in what he considered to be an apprenticeship where was taught by some of the best engineers in the heavy civil consulting industry. “At that time,” Simmons says, “I could not have envisioned that I would work on and provide expert witness testimony in the 1970s on what is still today the world’s largest energy storage project in Bath County Virginia holding 24,000MWh of energy, where in today’s world energy storage seeks alternatives to what is tried


Steve Simmons at the Panama Canal Project


and proven pumped storage energy storage at significant scale, using well proven technology.” Simmons adds that he continues to bring what wisdom and knowledge he’s been able to accumulate to the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan, where he is part of the leadership team “in the twilight” of his career. “It is exciting to help new graduates who


want to learn from someone’s previous experiences, showing them how they can advance their own careers by opening their minds to opportunities that they might not have thought about,” he adds. During his long career, Simmons has worked on hydroelectric projects in Venezuela, pumped storage in the Philippines, water supply in Jamaica and many domestic water projects in the US, including Alaska, Colorado, Arkansas, Minnesota and many other locations. Topping it off, he also worked in his own consulting practice, offering consulting advice to the executive and operating management at a 600-person environmental and engineering company for more than a decade.


Terradat


SPiVolt, a system engineered by TerraDat to observe subsurface waterflow, became commercially available 12 months ago. It provides clients with a powerful tool to assess earthen dams, coal tips, landslides, and the emergence of contamination pathways. The technology was developed over a seven-


Above: The Tina River Hydropower Development Project is the largest renewable energy project in the Solomon Islands, and reached several noteworthy milestones in 2023


Above: Example of TerraDat’s SPiVolt data portal for a Victorian-era earthen dam www.waterpowermagazine.com | December 2023 | 37


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