Honiara, 10 December 2024 – Geotechnical investigations for the Bina Tuna Project have been successfully completed this week, with the final phase of drilling concluding on Wednesday, December 11. This achievement was made possible through the active support and involvement from the community, highlighting a strong collaborative effort in the project’s development.
Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) Dr Christain Ramofafia, says completion of this phase marks a pivotal point in the project. “The drilling activities on site in the past fortnight will lay the groundwork for subsequent construction activities and the realisation of the project’s full scope.”
Following the completion of the geotechnical drilling, engineers will now conduct a thorough analysis of the collected data to determine the site’s suitability for future construction and development. This analysis is crucial for informed decision-making regarding the project’s progression, ensuring all necessary measures are taken to optimise the site’s potential.
Before the site investigations began, local communities from registered land-owning groups were actively engaged through ongoing consultations, as were communities outside the registered land parcels, reflecting a broad sense of involvement. While acknowledging the concerns raised by other groups in the region, MFMR and the Bina Trustees, were able to reach an amicable resolution to allow the geotechnical work to proceed as planned with all equipment and personnel on site safe and secure.
MFMR have set up a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with some community groups which includes provisions for involving community members in casual work opportunities. This agreement allows community to share in early economic benefits of the project surrounding areas.
The Bina Harbour Tuna Project holds significant promise for economic growth and development. The project, once established, will enable Solomon Islands to capture more of the tuna value chain, creating significant socio-economic benefits, including opportunities for quality employment by diversifying and growing Malaita’s economy, the nation’s most populous province.
-Press release
