US$318 Million Tina Hydropower Project Nears Completion As International Partners Seek Final Funding

British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and Nauru, His Excellency Paul Turner, visited the Tina Hydro Project on Friday 20 February with the new Head of the Asia Development Bank, Tony Gill, and World Bank officials. 

His Excellency Turner received a briefing on the status of the project, which is scheduled to be commissioned in February 2028. 

Project manager, Pradip Verma, provided an overview of current works and outlined the remaining financial requirements needed to ensure completion according to plan.

The total cost of the hydro scheme will reach US$318 million, comprising both grants and loans. The largest contribution comes from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), an international climate financing mechanism of which the UK is the third largest donor globally. 

GCF is providing US$86 million to Tina Hydro. Other contributors include the World Bank, the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of South Korea, and Australia. 

The Tina Hydro team emphasized the need for additional funding to successfully finish the project, noting that a further US$25 million has already been approved by the World Bank, and it is hoped that the GCF Board will approve an additional US$35 million at its meeting in March.

There is also the possibility of US$11 million from EDCF (Economic Development Cooperation Fund, South Korea) and US$4.5 million from Australia, though these amounts are not yet confirmed.

Increased funding requirements are partly due to cost escalations resulting from COVID-19, which halted operations for a significant period, and delays in preparing social and environmental impact plans.

When complete, Tina Hydro will generate 15 megawatts (MW) of power output, producing 78 gigawatt-hours (GWH) of electricity per year, serving around 70% of the Honiara region. 

The project is expected to reduce reliance on diesel generators, lower energy costs for residents, and contribute to the Solomon Islands’ climate resilience goals by supporting sustainable and cleaner energy sources.

His Excellency Turner expressed optimism that the GCF Board would approve the additional funding in either its March or June meeting. 

“Tina Hydro is a transformational project for the Solomons, and the UK is delighted to be supporting it through our funding of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The GCF is the largest contributor to Tina Hydro, and the UK will continue to be the strongest of advocates. We need the extra funding for the final push.