BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The Ministry of Environment Climate Change & Disaster Management (MECDM) through its meteorological division is rolling out an awareness initiative about the country’s new advanced weather radar project.
Solomon Islands will take a huge step forward towards to enhance its early warning services as work to install its new high-tech weather radar system progresses, MECDM said in a statement.
The awareness initiative is designed to educate the community on the importance of the equipment and to address any potential concerns regarding radiation.
The total cost of the project is SBD$20 million, according to MECDM.
The ministry said this project has been a long-term goal for the Solomon Islands, but it could not afford it due to the high costs associated with such sophisticated equipment.
The statement said the radar will become central to the country’s early warning system when commissioned and will allow forecasters to accurately predict rainfall intensity and frequency with a scanning range of 300 kilometres.
The radar will also provide important data that will greatly improve aviation forecasts for the airline industry in Solomon Islands.
MECDM said that work on the project became possible following successful negotiations led by former Director of the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services, now Permanent Secretary for MECDM Mr. David Hiriasia, who secured funding from the WMO through the “Weather Ready Pacific” Program, which is supported by the New Zealand government.
The New Zealand Met Service is the registered entity responsible to implement the project.
The project is currently being implemented in two phases, including initial site work towards the radar installation and public awareness.
Apart from that other important technical milestones have already been achieved, which include Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) clearance, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), and geotechnical surveys.
The statement said that installation is set to pick up momentum in March this year when two engineers from New Zealand will come over to begin on-site work as some of the equipment have already arrived in Honiara.
However, given that the project is situated within the Guadalcanal Province Jurisdiction, proper construction will commence when a construction permit from the Guadalcanal Province is issued.
Photo: MECDM
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