Placement of roller compacted concrete (RCC) for the main dam at the Tina River Hydropower Development Project in the Solomon Islands began on 26 October.
The construction programme targets an elevation of 135m by the end of February 2027, up from the foundation elevation of 115m. This stage will involve placing 67 layers of RCC, each 300mm thick, bringing the structure to the same elevation as the top of the upstream RCC cofferdam.
Further construction above this level will follow the resolution of excavation and stability issues on the main dam’s right abutment, according to the project update.
Preparations are also progressing for tunnel boring. The cutter head of the tunnel boring machine, ROTIMA, has been assembled and positioned inside the portal, approximately 1.4m from the end of the initially excavated 33.5m tunnel section. Assembly of the machine’s remaining components is continuing.
Tunnel segments are undergoing factory testing and are expected to arrive in Honiara by the end of November. Tunnel boring is scheduled to begin on 9 December 2026.
The 15MW project is scheduled for completion in 2028. It is being implemented by the Solomon Islands Government with financing and support from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Asian Development Bank, Australian Government, Green Climate Fund, Korea EX-IM Economic Development Cooperation Fund and World Bank.
