Work on a multi-million dollar water supply project for Honiara and Auki is expected to start early next year.
The project will be managed by the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification in partnership with the Japanese Government, through Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), and the Solomon Islands Water Authority (SIWA).A statement from the group say the award of the SBD$200 million dollars project is expected towards the end of this month.
Demand for water in Honiara has increased over the years and has resulted in water shortages to consumers. JICA agreed to provide funding to improve the water supply systems in both Honiara and Auki.
The project will, among other things, involve development of boreholes, increased capacity of distribution reservoirs, replacement of water transmission and distribution pipelines, installation of electrical equipment, provision of emergency standby generators and associated civil and building works.
The government is assisting with site and facility preparations as its contribution towards the project implementation.