October 29, 2024, Central Guadalcanal – The Tina River Hydropower Development Project is making quick progress as construction reaches the dam, marking a crucial phase in the project timeline. Final earthworks are being completed on the access road at Lot 2-2 which consists of 2.7 kms of winding road leading to the dam across challenging terrain.
With earthworks in full swing, the construction of the cofferdam and diversion culvert has commenced, and river diversion work is scheduled for early of 2025. Visuals of the site shows extensive slope cutting activities with a total of 550,000 cubic metres of soil excavated allowing for the road from Lot 2-2 to extend to the crest of the dam, providing access for construction activities at the dam site. Another road from Lot 2-2 will connect to Lot 2-3, leading to the river for the commencement of diversion work and the construction of the Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) dam.
Construction Manager for Tina Hydropower Limited, Saurabh Sharma says construction has moved ahead significantly in the past few weeks with the addition of night shift crews to help increase progress. “With more activity on site now, the project has progressed to the brink of the area where construction will begin for the main dam structure,” Mr Sharma says.
He goes on to add that the Lot 3 road, heading towards the powerhouse, has seen significant development. “Lot 3 -1 is completed which is 1.5kms long. The only part remaining is the final clearing of top layer of access road of around 30 cubic metres, which will be removed later when pavement works will start. Penstock slope cutting earthworks are in progress with around 50% completed. The Powerhouse cofferdam construction in also in progress and from next month, earthworks for the powerhouse will start.”
For over a decade, several concessional financing parties have been working closely with the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification under the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) to develop the project from project preparation to implementation including, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Asian Development Bank, the Government of Australia, the Green Climate Fund , the Korea EX-IM Economic Development Cooperation Fund and the World Bank.
By the end of 2024, Tunnel earthworks is expected to commence with the Tunnel Boring Machine installation starting in early 2025.
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