Handing over of Solar Desalination Units

On March 27, 2025, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy, serving as the Secretariat for the Kiribati National Drought Committee, hosted jointly with the Kiribati National Drought Committee ‘the Handing Over Ceremony for 20 Solar Portable Desalination Units.

The event was attended by a diverse group of stakeholders, including both government and non-government organizations. The event was graced by the OB Secretary; Ag Director- National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDMO); Senior Assistance Secretary of MISE; Director General of MISE; members of the Kiribati National Drought Committee; Ms. Meredith Ryland, Second Secretary (Development Cooperation), Australian High Commission; UNCEF Representatives; WSED and MISE staff members.

Their presence underscored the collaborative efforts and shared commitment of multiple sectors in addressing water scarcity challenges in Kiribati. These stakeholders played a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the project, which aims to provide sustainable and portable water solutions to drought-affected communities. Their ongoing involvement highlights the importance of partnerships in addressing the global issue of water access in vulnerable areas in Kiribati.

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N 27^th bongin Maati 2025, ao te Botaki ni Mwakuri ibukin Mwakurian Karikirake ao Kateimatoaan Korakora (MISE) n riki bwa te Secretariat nakon te Kiribati National Drought Committee ao e karaoa te Handing Over Ceremony ibukin uabwi (20) taian Solar Portable Desalination Units.

Botaki ni Mwakuri ake a roko ni kakoaua kanoan te bong anne bon Stakeholders, Botaki ni mwakuri man te Tautaeka tabeua ao Non-governmental organizations (NGO) ao n rabwatanaki iroun te Tia Koroboki man ana Aobiti te Beretitenti (OB), Ag Director- National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDMO); Senior Assistance Secretary ao Director General man te MISE;  aobitia man te Kiribati National Drought Committee; Ms. Meredith Ryland, Second Secretary (Development Cooperation), Australian High Commission; UNCEF Representatives; Water and Sanitation Engineering Department ao ai bon aobitia tabeman man te MISE.

Rokoia botaki ma rabwata aika a kakaokoro aikai bon kanikinaean te boutoka n ikarekebai ibukin kaitaraan kanganga ake e kaitarai Kiribati ibukin aki taun te ran ke te Water Scarcity. Te karikirake aio e na kateimatoa n karekei ke n katauraoi aanga ibukin kaitaraan kanganga ake ana kona n rootaki iai komiuniti inanon tain te mwautakataka ke drought seasons, ngkai Kiribati bon teuana mai ibuakon aaba aika a rootaki n te mwautakataka.

Opening and Handing Over of Tangangau Bridge and Maintenance Work to Reei Bridge

Imwiin te mwakuri korakora ibukin katiaakin buriiti iaon Marakei aika Nei Tangangau buriiti ao mwakuri ni katamaroa nakon Nei Reei buriiti n ikotaki ma uoua te tai katamaroa nakon te kawai ao e anga bwanaana te Minita Tekeeua Tarati n te botaki ni katabwena iaon Norauea, Marakei bwa ena uboaki ni kanikinakeaki tiana ao ni kaaitauaki ana intinia te MISE n raonaki irouia kain te aba ake a tia n anga korakoraia ibukin buokan katiakin te buriiti aio are e a mwakena naba iai anganakin te Kauntira ni Marakei bwa ena kona ni manga reitaki te mwakuri n tararua iaona.

“I aki maninga n anga te kakaitau nakon raou ni Minita are e a tia n tararua te MISE imwain rokou, are e a Tibiika ngkai Willie Tokataake. Ngaia ma ana taan rabakau ao a tia n iangoia bwa a nang kibaria ...ana kataumwane te Tautaeka rinanon te MISE ae te Maintenance Fund.... Ngke noria bwa iai tataran te mwane ao a iangoia bwa a nang kibara ana kainano Marakei aei, are ngaia e kabanea te mwaiti ni mwane ae raka iaon $500,000 mai moan karaoana ni karokoa te tai aei, ngaia are na bubuti tina anga baira n uboia naake I a tia ni mwaneweia ikai”, e taekinna te Minita Tekeeua Tarati inanon ana tai ni marooro.

 E karaoaki te bukamaru aio ni mwaaken Nei Tangangau buriiti ao ni kaainaki irouia Unimwane ma Unainen Marakei, te Meeia, Kauntira, tabeman kaain te aba ao ai ana tiim te MISE are e a kaainaki iroun te Minita Tekeeua Tarati, Tia Koroboki Dr Farran Redfern, Director General Jimmy Nuake, Principal Civil Engineering Panapa Pita, ao tabeman riki taan mwakuri.

E moanaki te butimwaai nakon ana tiim te MISE aio iroun te Unimwane ma te Unaie, te Meeia mai Marakei ma Kauntira n te marae ni wanikiba ao ni katokaaki aia bau n te Kanimabong 14 bongin Maati, ao ni manga kairaki kain te tiim nakon aia tabo n te O ni Katorika ibukin aia kateiwae.

Ni kanoan te burokuraem ao e moanaki te katabwanin n te Kaonobong imwiin rokoia kain te tiim ni moa man te aoa tebwina n te ingabong ike ea waaki naba te katabwanin  ni kaneweaba ao n karoko n taian buriiti aika Nei Reei buriiti ao Tangangau buriiti.

N rokon te Tiim n Tangangau buriiti ao e waaki te botaki ni butimwaai ao ni katabwena ike e anga iai ana marooro te Minita Tarati ni katerei iai kakawakin te mwakuri ao katamaroa iaon te buriiti ma te kawai aio, kaitauakiia Intinia man te MISE n ikotaki ma kaain Marake ake a tia n bane korakoraia ibukin iangoan ao katiaakin te buriiti.

Reei ao Tangangau buriiti n ikotaki ma kawain Marakei bon teuana mai ibuakon taben te MISE ake e a moanibwaiaki inanon te 100 ni bong, ao bon teuana naba ana tabeka Marakei ae aki toki n uouotia rake inanon te Auti n Tei man inanon te ririki 2018, ao ni kakoroaki nanona inanon te ririki aio are e a tia ni mwakuria te Tautaeka ni Kiribati rinanon ana aobiti ae te MISE ao n kabongana te Maintenance Fund ibukin mwakurian katamaroa aikai iaon Marakei.

Te karikirake ae Tangangau buriiti e moa waakinan karaoana inanon Okitobwa 2023 ao ni barongaaki iai ana tiim ni mwakuri te MISE n ikotaki ma taian mitiin ake ana kabonganai ao bwaai ni mwakuri riki tabeua n aron te site clearance ao te stockpiling. N raabanen naba te namwakaina ae Tuun 2024, ao a karokoaki bwaai ni mwakuri iaon Marakei ibukin onobwai nakon te buriiti ae Tangangau bridge ao n tabwanin karaoana inanon Beberuare 2025. Irarikin naba anne ao e reitinako te mwakuri ni katamaroa nakon Reei bridge ao karaoan te kawai are e nakon uoua te tai te mwakuri ni katamaroa nako iai imwain kitanan Marakei irouia taan mwakuri ni moan Maati 2025. Karikirake aika teniua aikai a bane n mwanenaki iaan te Maintenance Fund ibukin katoronibwaian te botannaomata iaon Marakei.

E kanakoa bwanaana ni kaaitau te Unimwane ao te Meeia mai Marakei inanon tain te katabwena ao n kaaitaua te Tautaeka ngkai e a tia ni mwakuria ao ni kakoroa nanon ana bubuti Marakei aio. E reitia riki n taekinna bwa n te tai aio ao e a nang kakatia Marakei bwa e a tabwanin kawaina ao e na nang bebete te mwamwananga irouia ataein te reirei, ena buoka tikotikonakin te kabanemwane iaon te bwaa, ao ni kaungai mwakuri ni kaneweaba ibukia iruwa ake a kakawara Marakei ao tabeua riki.

Imwiin taian marooro ao e a karaoaki te koro reeben iroun te Unaine ao buun te Meeia mai Marakei imatan Tangangau buriiti are e a mwaakena naba ukin ao touakin te buriiti irouia te botannaomata iaon Marakei.

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The Honourable Minister of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy, Tekeeua Tarati, has applauded the efforts of MISE Engineers, including former Minister Willie Tokataake, and Marakei people for their contributions to the successful completion of Nei Tangangau Bridge and maintenance work on Nei Reei Bridge and twice the road maintence work to Marakei Island.

The handing-over ceremony took place in Norauea village near Tangangau Bridge, attended by Minister Tarati, Secretary Dr. Farran Redfern, Director General Jimmy Nuake, Principal Civil Engineer Panapa Pita, and other officials. The event also included participation from the Mayor, Elders, Island Council members, and local community representatives.

Upon their arrival on Friday, March 14, at Marakei Airport, the Minister and his team were warmly welcomed with garlands by the Island Council members, including the Mayor, before proceeding to their accommodations at the Catholic hotel.

Tangangau Bridge has been a long-standing priority for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE), frequently raised in parliamentary sessions ever since the completion of Nei Reei bridge since in 2018. Recognizing the bridge’s importance to the people of Marakei, the MISE office allocated more than $500,000 from the maintenance fund 2023 to rehabilitate the existing bridge structure, that is fully funded by the government of Kiribati.

The construction on Tangangau bridge began in October 2023 by mobilizing MISE team with their heavy equipment and some materials, to begin with preparation work include site clearance and stockpiling. Late in June 2024, the materials had arrived in Marakei to continue with replacement of Tangangau bridge and completed mid February 2025. The team had continued their work and completed the repair work on Reei bridge and maintained the road twice before leaving the island early March 2025. Note the same funding initiative also covered repairs for the Reei Bridge and maintain the road twice on Marake for ensuring safer and more reliable access for the community.

Minister Tarati highlighted that the celebration was not only about the completion of these critical infrastructure projects but also about fulfilling MISE’s 100-day commitment which is now handed over to the Island Council to continue safeguarding and maintenance to the bridges and road. He emphasized that these achievements reflect the government’s dedication to sustainable infrastructure development and improving the well-being of communities and its people.

The Mayor of Marakei has responded in his speech acknowledging the completion of the project and the dedication of MISE staff and others which has accommodate the need of the island through the need of road maintenance and bridge rehabilitation and for visitors, students to drive around the island improving fuel cost saving and promote economic activities and so forth.

The speeches were then followed by the cutting of the bridge ribbon performed by the Unaine and Mayor wife, which marked the end of the celebration and opening of the bridge usage for all people on Marakei island.

MISE Community Service

Saturday morning, 1st March 2025, the Honorable Minister of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE), Tekeeua Tarati, led a staff community service and cleanup initiative. This activity was part of the MISE’s MSP Retreat, where all staff members participated in cleaning the compound of the ETC Council Office, as well as the grounds of the Roman Catholic and Kiribati Uniting Church compounds.

During the retreat, Minister Tarati emphasized that the cleanup would leave a positive and lasting impact on the island, setting a standard that no other ministry had achieved before. The initiative was celebrated as a significant contribution to both the environment and the local community.

The Ministry Strategic Plan (MSP) Retreat was attended by the Honorable Minister Tekeeua Tarati, Secretary Dr Farran Redfern, Admin Team, Head of Departments, State Own Enterprises (SOEs) Chief Executive Officer (CEOs) and Representatives from SOEs and Project Management Units.

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E a tia te Minita Tekeeua Tarati ma kainnabana Mrs Tuun Tarati man te Botaki ni mwakuri ibukin Mwakurian Karikirake ao Kateimatoaan Korakora (MISE) ni kaira te kaitiaki ke te Community Service Clean up are bon teuana mai ibuakon kanoan te MISE MSP Retreat are e karaoaki i aon Abaokoro ni moaningabongin te Kaonobong 1 bongin Maati, 2025.

E taekinna te Minita Tarati bwa te kaitiaki aio ena kona n riki bwa kaungakin kanoan te burokuraem ao ni katikui mwaneka aika a tamaroa imwiin kaeakin te Retreat aio iroun Tia Koroboki Dr Farran Redfern ma kain te Admin Team, Head of Departments man mwangan nako te MISE n ikotaki ma Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), ao ai taan tei ke Representatives man te MISE State Own Enterprises (SOEs) ao Project Management Units (PMUs).

E waakinaki te mwakuri ni kaitiaki aio n ana mwaake te Kauntira n Tarawaieta ao Botaki n Aro aika te KUC ao te Katorika.

The successful procurement of medium-sized road repair machines for our Island councils 

E a tia te Botaki ni mwakuri ibukin Mwakurian Karikirake ao Kateimatoaan Korakora ni karaoa ana botaki ni katekeraoi ibukin butimwaean taian Loader ke Tractor, Tipper trucks, ao Hand Compactor ae nakon 3.3 te mirion te kabanemwane iaona.

E karaoaki te bukamaru aio n te Sport Complex iaon Betio ao ni kakoauaaki kanoana irouia iruwa aika rine His Excellency Beretitenti Taneti Maamau, Kauoman Beretitenti Dr Teuea Toatu, te Minita Tekeeua Tarati n ikotaki ma Minita ao Taan Koroboki tabeman man ana botaki ni mwakuri nako te Tautaeka, Ambatita ao ai iruwa aika a kakawaki man te Tautaeka ake a reke naba rokoia.

N ana marooro te Minita Tekeeua Tarati ao e katerea bwa aio bon teuana mai ibuakon kanoan mamarooro ake aki toki n rinanoaki inanon te Auti n tei ibukin aia bubuti Kauntira man abwamwakoron Kiribati aika a kakaokoro.

E reitia riki n taekinna bwa e a tia ni mwakuriaki ao ni koro nanon aio, are bon teuana naba mai ibuakon ana kakamwakuri te Tautaeka ibukin te 100 ni bong ke te 100 days Priorities.

Man karekean taian bwai ni mwakuri aikai ao ana kona abamwakoro aikai ni kateimatoa te katamaroa nakon kaboraoaki aia kawai.

Abamwakoro ake ana tauraoi ni karekea 1 te Kobuta loader/tractor, 1 Tipper Truck ao 1 te Hand Compactor bon Abaiang, Nonouti, North Tarawa ke Tarawaieta, Maiana, Tabiteuea Maiaki, Beru, Arorae, Tabiteuea Meang, Aranuka, Marakei, Tabuaeran ao Teraina.

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The Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE) marked the successful procurement of medium-sized road repair machines for outer island councils, on Wednesday afternoon 26^th February 2025, at the Sport Complex.

Guests arrived at the event were His Excellency President Taneti Maamau, Vice President Dr Teuea Toatu, MISE Honorable Cabinet Ministers, Members of Diplomatic Corp, Head of Churches, Secretaries, MISE Head of Departments and Civil Engineering Department staff.

Three machines will be sent to the outer islands such as one Kobuta tractor/Backhoe loader, one tipper truck, and to Abaiang, Aranuka, Arorae, Beru, Maiana, Marakei, North Tarawa, Nonouti, Tabiteuea Meang, Tabiteuea Maiaki, Tabuaeran, and Teraina.

It is with great pride that we gather today to witness and celebrate one of the key accomplishments of MISE 100-days commitment to the Kiribati government – “The successful procurement of medium-sized road repair machines for our Island councils”, said Minister Tarati in his key notes.

He also emphasized that the initiative is a direct response to the requests made by the island councils on the outer islands, a topic that was widely discussed in the previous session of Parliament.

“Our government acknowledged this request, and through the Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE), we took decisive action to address this pressing need. With that, these machines are fully funded by the Kiribati government with a total budget fund of 3.3 million”, he added.