The electricity network and school facilities damaged by Cyclone Ian in Ha’apai early this year are currently rebuilt through a TP$17 million funded-project that majorly contributed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the New Zealand government.
The fund came from a TP$9 million granted by ADB, TP$6.5 million funded by the New Zealand government and TP$1.67 million contributed by Tonga Power Ltd.
The Tongan government contributed to the project with what it described as “in-kind” contribution.
TP$5,326,020.00 of the grant would go to the restoration of the electricity network.
The project began on Friday, October 31 in the village of Koulo and it would include “removal of materials containing asbestos from damaged buildings”, Tonga Power says.
A crew of nine Tonga Power staff including linesmen and mechanics were sent from Tongatapu to Ha’apai to work on the project.
It was expected to take around twelve months before completion and would involve a significant number of lines and Project Management staff, said John van Brink, CEO of Tonga Power Limited.
The equipment and materials for the construction arrived in Ha’apai on Wednesday, 29 October 2014. Some of the equipment were:
– One bucket truck to be used by the linesmen
– One crane truck to be used for drilling
– One Ute to transport the materials for the project to the construction areas
– ABC drums to renew the power lines at Ha’apai
– Meter boxes for the project
The power poles for the project were shipped to Pangai, Ha’apai in March 2014 as part of the New Zealand Government’s contribution.
“Earlier this year, Tropical Cyclone Ian destroyed 90% of the power lines and power poles on Ha‟apai leaving more than 900 customers without power and over 75% of homes severely destroyed in the powerful storm”.
