A joint team from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) visited the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) this week as part of their regular monitoring programme. The delegation was accompanied by the Project Office’s Environment and Social (E&S) team.
The mission focused on the Dam Site and Powerhouse Site, reviewing construction progress by Tina Hydropower Limited (THL) and Hyundai Engineering Company (HEC), and assessing compliance with environmental and social safeguards. Officials acknowledged ongoing progress and discussed upcoming milestones with site supervisors.
The monthly site visit forms an essential part of donor oversight, ensuring that construction work continues to meet international standards and that project commitments to safety, sustainability, and community wellbeing are upheld.
The Project Office E&S team provided updates on current activities, ongoing mitigation measures, and any emerging issues requiring attention. The World Bank and ADB teams acknowledged the progress being made and engaged with site supervisors to discuss upcoming milestones for the next phase of construction.
Project overview
TRHDP is the Solomon Islands’ first large‑scale renewable energy project, designed to reduce reliance on diesel power and provide cleaner, more affordable electricity to Honiara and surrounding regions.
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Capacity: 15 MW
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Annual generation: ~78 GWh, covering 70–80 % of Honiara’s electricity needs
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Transmission: 22 km 66 kV line connecting the plant to the city grid
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Target commissioning: early 2028
Civil works began in late 2024, with road access nearly complete and dam and powerhouse construction well underway. As of early 2025, overall project completion was estimated at 23 %, with the access road at 87 %.
Financing and partnerships
The project is delivered through a public–private partnership with financing from the World Bank, ADB, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Australian Government, Green Climate Fund, and Korea EX‑IM Economic Development Cooperation Fund. Total financing exceeds US$200 million, supporting construction, transmission, and community benefit programmes.
Impact
TRHDP will:
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Provide reliable, affordable energy and reduce diesel reliance
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Cut greenhouse gas emissions, supporting national climate goals
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Stimulate local employment and economic growth through construction and community programmes
The monthly compliance visits highlight the continued oversight of donor partners as TRHDP progresses toward delivering a major renewable energy milestone for the Solomon Islands.
For updates, visit: www.tina-hydro.com
