Group photo
By Becky Bui
The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for the Tina River Hydropower Development Project has officially been named Rotima, following a naming competition involving students from schools in the project area.
The name was selected during an award ceremony held in Honiara on Friday 14th of August, with the project team describing the name as a reflection of local culture, community pride and shared hopes for the future.
Project Manager Pradip Verma says the TBM will play an important role in constructing the project’s 3.2-kilometre headrace tunnel.
The tunnel, measuring 3.8 metres in diameter, will carry water from the dam to the powerhouse, where the water will be used to generate electricity.
The Tina River Hydropower Project is a 15-megawatt development consisting of three five-megawatt generating units.
Verma says the project is expected to generate about 78 gigawatt hours of electricity each year and supply around 65 percent of Honiara’s energy requirements when it is commissioned in February 2028.
“This project will definitely be a gamechanger for Solomon Islands,” Verma said.
The project is also expected to reduce Solomon Power’s reliance on diesel-generated electricity and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Pradip said the project is expected to displace about 38,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas each year and reduce diesel consumption.
The project is also delivering benefits to communities in the project area through the Community Benefit Sharing Project.
Under the first phase, 187 homes were connected to electricity, while another 287 homes are being connected under the second phase.
The project is also supporting water supply systems, literacy and numeracy training, business training and agricultural activities.
Pradip added that around 200 local people are currently working on the project, with further opportunities expected as construction progresses.
Women in surrounding communities are also supplying food and vegetables to the project camp. With the number of people at the camp expected to increase as major construction activities progress, the supply quantity will increase.
The project has currently achieved 35 percent progress.
Verma acknowledged communities in the Bahomea, Malango, Malatoha and Belaha areas for their support, saying their cooperation has been important to the progress of the project.
Tina Hydropower Limited is expected to operate the project for 30 years after commercial operation.
With the TBM now officially named Rotima, the machine will form an important part of the next stage of tunnel construction for the Tina River Hydropower Project.
The tunnel boring is expected to commence in early November this year.
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