Kiribati : South Tarawa Water Supply Project

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban water supply

TheProject is Aligned with:

Health and climate change resilience of South Tarawa's population improved

Results Chain

Access of South Tarawa's population to safe, climate-resilient water supplies increased

Climate resilient and low carbon water supply infrastructure

Capacity of MISE and PUB to effectively manage water supply infrastructure increased

Awareness of WASH and climate change issues is raised.

Project implementation is managed efficiently and effectively

Output 1: Climate resilient and low carbon water supply infrastructure. The design-build-operate (DBO) Package GDW-1: Two Bore Fields and Two Desalination Plants, South Tarawa, Kiribati in the amount of AUD$36,400,186 was executed by the Government in June 2022. Early progress has been made on submission of the contractor's management plans and 20% design including HAZOP (process design review) workshop. Completion of the design-build phases and commissioning of the desalination plants located at Betio and McKenzie, is expected to occur by end Q3, 2023 and by end Q1, 2024 respectively. The combined production capacity of the two desalination plants will be 6,000 cubic meters per day (m3/d).

Significant delays were experienced with development of the bidding documents for Package GDW 2: Water Supply Networks due to late incorporation of a management services contract (World Bank template) and redefinition of the scope of operational responsibilities to satisfy World Bank's requirements. A single set of bidding documents for the Package GDW-2 is currently being finalized for procurement of the two contracts, GDW-2/1 Water Supply Networks (construction) and GDW-2/2 Management Services (O&M). Bidding is expected to commence on 31 October 2022.

Procurement of Package GDW-3: Solar PV Array (2.5-megawatt peak (MWp)) and Associated Works was combined with the South Tarawa Renewable Energy Project's (STREP) procurement of a 5 MWp solar PV array and battery energy storage system (BESS) and operations and maintenance services. The bid evaluation was completed in July 2022 and ADB have advised its no-objection to award of the contract. The EA expects to award the contract by 14 September 2022.

Output 2: Capacity of MISE and PUB to effectively manage water supply infrastructure increased. The project coordinated initiatives for capacity development and institutional strengthening of PUB with the Kiribati Utilities Reform Project (KURP) being implemented separately under NZ MFAT funding. Progress on this output includes development of scope and detailed requirements for Package GDW-1 (operation service phase ~ 4.5 years commencing Q3, 2023) and GDW-2/2 Management Services (O&M). Further institutional strengthening will be implemented under WASH Awareness Program Part C.

Output 3: Awareness on WASH and climate change issues is raised. The WASH program has been designed to complement and reinforce other WASH initiatives that are or have been delivered in South Tarawa. The WASH program will be delivered in 3 parts. Part A: (Water is Life) will foster water conservation and vigilance in caring for the water supply assets and minimizing non-revenue water. Part B: (Community Partnership) will focus on hygiene awareness and hygiene behavioral change to improve community health. Part C: (Water Leadership) will create the enabling environment for the sustainable delivery of potable water supply services and management of natural resources and will train MISE and PUB staff to be water champions.

Key aspects of WASH program Part A relating to conservation of water and utility customer behavior have been incorporated within the scope of Package GDW-2/2 Management Services (O&M) contract. Government appointed the WASH Awareness Program Part B: (Community Partnership) consultants in May 2021 and sound progress has been made including completion of: (i) review of previous WASH programs, (ii) baseline indicators survey, (iii) Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) strategy development, and (iv) CSO Capacity Assessment. Recruitment of a consultant for WASH Part C is expected to commence by December 2022.

Output 4: Project implementation is managed efficiently and effectively. Recruitment of consulting services for the project management unit (PMU) is complete including: the project manager, deputy project manager, project accountant, safeguards manager and social development and gender specialist. Government appointed the project implementation assistance (PIA) consultants in March 2021.