Infrastructure projects to begin next year; Panuelo urges state leaders to tap China funds as well
By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Kosrae is gearing up for a construction boom, with a number of multimillion-dollar foreign aid-funded infrastructure projects already set in motion and scheduled to start next year.
During his visit to Kosrae last week, Federated States of Micronesia President David Panuleo updated state leaders on the status of close to a dozen projects on the island.
The administration’s Pave the Nation initiative includes the $46 million FSM Priority Road Improvements & Management Enhancements (PRIME) project, the $12 million FSM Strategic Climate-Oriented Road Enhancements (SCORE)Project, which are both funded by the World Bank, as well the $18 million Sustainable Road Infrastructure Investment (SRII) project bankrolled by the Asian Development Bank.
Panuelo also advised Kosrae leaders to tap into the $16 million donations from China on the state's road projects identified as priorities.
The PRIME funding supports the Improvement of the Lelu Causeway project.
According to the Office of the President, said the contract for the Leu project will be awarded in October and construction is scheduled to begin in late 2022.
Other projects, to be identified by the ongoing Vulnerability Assessment and Climate Resilient Road Strategy, are to be complNTeted in January 2022.
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During his meeting with state leaders, Panuelo also announced that the final assessment report to identify priority rehabilitation works at the Okat Port is expected to be completed by the end of October, with designing work to begin in 2022, and construction to take place in 2023.
He also announced that designs have been completed for the Multi-Purpose Students Center at the College of Micronesia-Kosrae campus.
According to the Office of the President, a design firm has been selected to prepare the designs and bidding documents for the construction of a new elementary school in Malem Municipality.
The government is currently negotiating contracts with local contractors to replace the fencing at Kosrae High School.
Another project involves the refurbishment of facilities at the Kosrae agricultural station, whose designs are being prepared.
Regarding power generation and access, Panuelo said FSM will soon fill the open positions for a state energy officer, an energy efficiency officer and a project officer for various energy projects in Kosrae.
The president said negotiations are underway with the selected bidder who will implement various priority projects in Kosrae, such as roof-mounted grid-tied solar in Tofol, and the electrification of Walung.
The contract is expected to be awarded by October.
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