Press Releases

» Japan’s Aid Benefits Kiribati’s Infrastructure Sector

Embargo: Monday,20th March 2006, 04:30 p.m.

The Government of the Republic of Kiribati will hold two ceremonies to mark the opening of “the Project for Upgrading of Electric Power Supply in Tarawa (Phase II)” and “the Project for Rehabilitation of Betio Port (Phase I)”, respectively. Both these projects were funded by the People and Government of Japan.

Mr. Hiroshi Watanabe, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, will officially open these projects to commemorate its completion.

The official opening of “the Project for Upgrading of the Electric Power Supply in Tarawa (Phase II)” will be held at 10:00 a.m. on 20th March 2006 at Bikenibeu Power Station in Tarawa. A sum of 796,000,000 Japanese Yen (approx. US$6,750,000) was provided for this project through Japan’s General Grant Aid programme in July 2004. The project involved four (4) components which are:

  1. extension of powerhouse building;
  2. procurement and installation work for generating facilities;
  3. procurement and installation work for 11kV distribution facilities; and
  4. procurement of spare parts, maintenance tools and vehicles for components (B) and (C).

It is envisaged that the upgraded facilities will increase the capacity of the Bikenibeu Power Station in providing electric power, thereby assisting the commercial ventures in their production capacity. In the long term, the funding would contribute to the economic development and growth in Kiribati.

“The Project for Rehabilitation of Betio Port (Phase I)” will be officially opened at 04:30 p.m. on 20th March 2006 at the Port site. The total funding for this project was 313,000,000 Japanese Yen (approx. US$3 million) provided through Japan’s General Grant Aid Programme in March 2005. The main work involved repairs to the port facilities, which were damaged due to a storm in December 2002.

Japan’s assistance to these projects indicates its commitment to contribute to the improvement of the living standards and welfare of people in Kiribati and is in line with its Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy of promoting development of underdeveloped and developing countries. It is hoped that this assistance will help further strengthen the friendly ties between the governments and the people of Kiribati and Japan.