Japan provides SBD$29 million for Honiara Street Lights and Geology Laboratory

The Government of Japan today signed an Exchange of Notes with the Government of Solomon
Islands for a grant aid of SBD$29 million that will go towards a Geology Laboratory and Solar Street
Lights for Honiara city.


Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Jeremiah Manele and Japan Ambassador to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Morimoto Yasuhiro pose for the press after the signing today.

Japan Ambassador to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Morimoto Yasuhiro and Minister for Foreign
Affairs and External Trade Jeremiah Manele signed the Exchange of Notes in the presence of officials
from Solomon Power, Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification and senior Government
officials.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Ambassador Yasuhiro says the assistance was made possible
through Japan's Grant Aid for Economic and Social Development Programme.
“The Exchange of Note signing today is the third in Solomon Islands for Grant Aid under the Grant
Aid for Economic and Social Development Programme which started in 2018, with the first
assistance to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, and in 2020 to the Ministry of Health
and Medical Services.
“The signing today formalizes a 400 million Japanese Yen (Approx. SBD 29million) assistance to the
Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, especially to the Geological Survey Division and
Solomon Power,” Yasuhiro says.
He says the Geological Survey Division through this assistance will acquire very much needed
Geological laboratory equipment such as Gas and Liquid Chromatography for oil and gas sample
component test, a portable drilling machine and other equipment.
He adds Solomon Power will be able to erect Solar Street Lights in and around the communities in
Honiara city.
Meanwhile, Minister Manele thanked the Japanese Government for its continuous assistance in
these challenging times.
He says the Solar Street Lights will complement the support provided by Japan for the
Kukum HighWay Phase 2 project as well combating climate change.
“This grant aid will be used to purchase 110 solar powered street lights which will be installed by
Solomon Power.
“For the geological laboratory, the support will be used to purchase laboratory equipment to
analyse rock, soil, and water, gas and oil samples. The geological laboratory will be managed
by the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification
“With this funding assistance, I belief will improve the Geological Survey Department’s capacity to
support the Government’s initiative, including mineral and geological exploration for supporting
economic development as well as mitigating disaster risk,” Manele says.
The Minister adds, the infrastructural initiative by the Ministry of Mines and Energy for the
installation of Street Solar Lights will surely improve the country’s energy efficiency and
conservation as it prepares to host the Pacific Games in 2023.

“Such green initiative will also minimize the use of diesel fuel and provide lighting for feeder roads in
the suburbs around Honiara City.
The geological laboratory will support the government’s testing capability and capacity to determine
soil and rock types and identify mineral resources,” he says.
by Jared Koli

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