Solomon Islands: Solar Power Development Project
The Asian Development Bank is working with the Government of Solomon Islands and Solomon Power to convert electricity networks in five provinces almost entirely to solar power. The project will reduce the need for costly shipments of diesel to the provincial centers.
Project Details
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Project Officer
Elbling, Elmar
Pacific Department
Request for information -
Country/Economy
Solomon Islands -
Sector
- Energy
Related Projects
| Project Name | Solar Power Development Project | ||||||||
| Project Number | 48346-002 | ||||||||
| Country / Economy | Solomon Islands |
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| Project Status | Active | ||||||||
| Project Type / Modality of Assistance | Grant |
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| Source of Funding / Amount |
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| Strategic Agendas | Environmentally sustainable growth Inclusive economic growth Regional integration |
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| Drivers of Change | Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Governance and capacity development Knowledge solutions Partnerships Private sector development |
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| Sector / Subsector | Energy / Renewable energy generation - solar |
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| Gender Equity and Mainstreaming | Effective gender mainstreaming | ||||||||
| Description | |||||||||
| Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | |||||||||
| Impact | Utilization of renewable energy increased as stated under National Development Strategy, 2016-2025. |
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| Project Outcome | |
|---|---|
| Description of Outcome | An increased supply of reliable and cleaner electricity. |
| Progress Toward Outcome | A contract for design, supply, installation and operation of five grid-connected solar power plants had been awarded in October 2018. The project had experienced delays due to delayed procurement, weather-related delays in the delivery of equipment to the project sites and COVID-19 related travel restrictions that prevented engineers from entering the country. The solar power plants in Munda, Tulagi, Kirakira and Malu'u are 90-95% complete and ready for commissioning and testing while the plant in Lata is 60% complete. |
| Implementation Progress | |
| Description of Project Outputs | Five grid-connected solar power plants put into operation Capacity building program undertaken |
| Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) | Output 1: Five grid-connected solar power plants put into operation. COVID-19 related travel restrictions delayed the completion and commissioning of the solar power plants, as the construction team was not able to return to Solomon Islands. The plants in Munda and Tulagi are 90% completed while the projects in Kirakira and Malu'u are 95% completed. The project in Lata is 60% completed._ Output 2: Capacity building program undertaken. The capacity-building program for solar operators has been partially completed. Procurement, financial management and gender-awareness trainings have been undertaken. The solar operators will receive additional on-the-job training during commissioning of the projects. |
| Geographical Location | Kirakira, Lata, Maluu, Munda, Tulaghi |
| Safeguard Categories | |
|---|---|
| Environment | B |
| Involuntary Resettlement | B |
| Indigenous Peoples | C |
| Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
|---|---|
| Environmental Aspects | The project is considered to create impacts which can be mitigated adequately through implementation of the environmental management plan which includes measures to avoid and/or minimize environmental impacts from civil works and related construction activities. |
| Involuntary Resettlement | There was no physical relocation or loss of income during the implementation of the project. Impacts are not significant as defined under the SPS. The total land required by the project for the solar facilities is 6.7ha of government-owned land. No acquisition of customary land was required. There are no long-term impacts from the project as the construction and operation activities do not restrict the community members near the solar farms from accessing and using nearby resources. However, there were adverse impacts from the loss of trees or crops on the proposed sites. |
| Indigenous Peoples | The entire population of Solomon Islands is considered indigenous, and the affected people are not considered especially vulnerable. |
| Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | |
| During Project Design | Regular public consultations were carried out with key stakeholders (e.g., member government officials, nongovernment organizations, development partners, and regional agencies) to discuss and update the progress of the project. |
| During Project Implementation | Regular public consultations are carried out with key stakeholders (e.g., member government officials, nongovernment organizations, development partners, and regional agencies) to discuss and update the progress of the project. |
| Business Opportunities | |
|---|---|
| Consulting Services | A consulting firm had been engaged for support during design finalization, tendering, and project supervision, using the quality- and cost-based selection method with a quality-cost ratio of 90:10. Two consultants were hired through individual consultant selection to provide up-front procurement support and site supervision support. All consultants will be recruited in accordance with ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants. |
| Procurement | The Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE) is the executing agency for the project. Solomon Power is the implementing agency; a PMU has been established within Solomon Power. Solomon Power provides personnel for the PMU._The PMU has been responsible for the procurement of all civil works and goods, which will be undertaken in accordance with ADB's Procurement Guidelines. Solomon Islands had requested that ADB select the design and supervision consultants on its behalf. |
| Responsible ADB Officer | Elbling, Elmar |
| Responsible ADB Department | Pacific Department |
| Responsible ADB Division | Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office in Sydney, Australia |
| Executing Agencies |
Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification |
| Timetable | |
|---|---|
| Concept Clearance | 07 Nov 2014 |
| Fact Finding | 07 Mar 2016 to 18 Mar 2016 |
| MRM | 17 May 2016 |
| Approval | 21 Nov 2016 |
| Last Review Mission | - |
| Last PDS Update | 01 Sep 2022 |
Grant 0514-SOL
| Milestones | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
| Original | Revised | Actual | |||
| 21 Nov 2016 | 19 Jan 2017 | 05 Apr 2017 | 30 Jun 2021 | 31 Dec 2022 | - |
| Financing Plan | Grant Utilization | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (Amount in US$ million) | Date | ADB | Others | Net Percentage | |
| Project Cost | 9.00 | Cumulative Contract Awards | |||
| ADB | 2.24 | 25 Oct 2022 | 1.31 | 0.00 | 77% |
| Counterpart | 6.76 | Cumulative Disbursements | |||
| Cofinancing | 0.00 | 25 Oct 2022 | 1.09 | 0.00 | 64% |
| Status of Covenants | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Sector | Safeguards | Social | Financial | Economic | Others |
| Rating | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory |
Grant 0515-SOL
| Milestones | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
| Original | Revised | Actual | |||
| 21 Nov 2016 | 19 Jan 2017 | 05 Apr 2017 | 30 Jun 2021 | 31 Dec 2022 | - |
| Financing Plan | Grant Utilization | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (Amount in US$ million) | Date | ADB | Others | Net Percentage | |
| Project Cost | 6.20 | Cumulative Contract Awards | |||
| ADB | 0.00 | 25 Oct 2022 | 0.00 | 5.97 | 96% |
| Counterpart | 0.00 | Cumulative Disbursements | |||
| Cofinancing | 6.20 | 25 Oct 2022 | 0.00 | 5.04 | 81% |
| Status of Covenants | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Sector | Safeguards | Social | Financial | Economic | Others |
| Rating | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory |
Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.
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In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.
Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.
Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation
None currently available.
Related Publications
None currently available.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.
Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.
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ADB Approves $15.2 Million Solar Project for Solomon Islands
ADB today approved financing to support the Government of Solomon Islands and Solomon Power to convert electricity networks in five provinces almost entirely to solar power.
Tenders
| Tender Title | Type | Status | Posting Date | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender and Community Development Specialist | Individual - Consulting | Closed | 12 Aug 2020 | 23 Aug 2020 |
| Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist | Individual - Consulting | Closed | 04 Aug 2020 | 17 Aug 2020 |
| Grant 0514-0515-SOL: Solar Power Development Project [W01] | Invitation for Bids | Closed | 18 Aug 2017 | 18 Oct 2017 |
Contracts Awarded
No contracts awarded for this project were found
Procurement Plan
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Power Development Project: Procurement Plan | Procurement Plans | Sep 2016 |