The World Bank's Environment and Social Framework (ESF) Practice Manager, Africa Olojoba, has visited the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (THDP) in Solomon Islands, highlighting construction progress, strong safety practices and environmental stewardship at the country's first large-scale renewable energy project.
Olojoba was joined by a World Bank delegation comprising Lead Environmental Specialist Nathalie Staelens, Environmental Specialist Khine Thwe Wynn, Social Development Specialist Joyce Onguglo and Energy Specialist Yulia Zakrevskaia during the March 27 site visit.
The delegation began its visit at the Hyundai Engineering Company site office, where project officials provided a safety induction briefing outlining workplace health and safety protocols. The team then toured the dam site and the powerhouse site, including the main tunnel system currently under development.
Speaking during a meeting at the Garivera camp site, Olojoba outlined three key observations from the visit.
He cited the project's substantial development progress, noting the advancement of major structures, ongoing construction activities and milestones achieved to date.
Olojoba also commended project teams for maintaining strong occupational health and safety standards across the construction site.
In addition, he highlighted the project's environmental performance, particularly areas of natural revegetation and the replantation programme being implemented as part of biodiversity management efforts.
The World Bank is one of the principal financiers of the Tina River Hydropower Development Project and has played a key role in supporting the project's objective of delivering clean, affordable and sustainable energy to Solomon Islands.
Once completed, the hydropower facility is expected to reduce the country's dependence on diesel-fired electricity generation, lower power costs for consumers and support national climate commitments.
The Tina River Hydropower Development Project is being led by the Solomon Islands government with financing and support from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Asian Development Bank, the Australian government, the Green Climate Fund, Korea EXIM Economic Development Cooperation Fund and the World Bank.
The project is the first large-scale renewable energy development undertaken in Solomon Islands and is expected to improve access to cleaner and more reliable electricity for households and businesses while supporting the country's long-term energy transition.
