Jeremiah Manele has convened senior executives of key state-owned enterprises to accelerate progress on the Auki Road Project, warning that delays could leave the Solomon Islands government bearing full completion costs.
At a meeting held on Thursday, Manele brought together chairpersons, chief executives and senior management from major SOEs, including Solomon Power, Solomon Water and Solomon Telekom, to address the government’s responsibilities in advancing the project.
The prime minister described the Auki Road Project as the government’s most important infrastructure undertaking in Malaita Province, noting that it complements recently completed bridge projects and the near-completion of the Kilu’ufi hospital upgrade.
He reiterated that the revised completion deadline of December 2026 must be met, cautioning that any slippage beyond that timeframe would shift the financial burden entirely onto the government.
Manele stressed the urgency of agreeing on a clear implementation schedule for relocation works to be carried out by the SOEs, covering the movement of infrastructure assets and equipment along sections of the road under development.
He noted that, despite extensive prior consultations among SOEs, contractors and government agencies, visible progress on the ground has been limited. He also revealed that the project donor has raised serious concerns over delays in delivering the government’s commitments, affecting the overall timeline.
To restore confidence in the project, Manele called for immediate and decisive action, emphasising that the government’s financial role would be limited to relocation costs, while infrastructure upgrades would be borne by the utilities as part of their modernisation programmes.
With a constrained timeline, the prime minister urged SOEs to prioritise relocation works, setting a maximum six-week window for completion.
Key outcomes from the meeting include agreement on a firm implementation schedule to complete relocation works by 22 May 2026, consensus on cost requirements, clear delineation of financing responsibilities between the government and SOEs, and a framework for SOEs to pre-finance works subject to reimbursement of eligible costs.
Manele called for stronger coordination among SOEs and line ministries, urging joint leadership to deliver on their respective mandates.
The Auki Road Project forms part of the government’s broader development agenda, contributing to infrastructure development, economic transformation and improved access to essential services.
Representatives of the SOEs welcomed the engagement, indicating their willingness to mobilise internal resources to fast-track implementation while finalising financing arrangements with the government.
The meeting also agreed to target the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the government and the three SOEs by the end of the week, enabling works to commence the following week, with all relocation activities scheduled for completion by 22 May.
The SOEs further committed to collaborate closely, including sharing resources where possible, to ensure timely delivery of their respective responsibilities under the Auki Road Project.
