Samoa is moving ahead with a major infrastructure project aimed at flood control, water security and renewable energy, with officials opening early engagement with global contractors for the proposed Alaoa Multipurpose Dam Project.
Backed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Ireland Trust Fund, the project is valued at about US$100.1 million and will be procured through an open competitive bidding process following prequalification.
The Government says the project will deliver three key outcomes: reduce flooding along the Vaisigano River, strengthen water supply resilience in Apia, and boost renewable energy generation.
At the centre of the plan is a large roller compacted concrete dam, standing 60 metres high with a crest length of about 320 metres, to be built upstream of the Vaisigano River. The dam will regulate roughly half of the river’s catchment and provide around 4 million cubic metres of storage, mainly for flood control and water supply.
The project also includes a small 0.6-megawatt hydropower plant, along with transmission infrastructure and a substation, adding to Samoa’s push to increase renewable energy capacity.
Authorities confirmed that the main construction contract—estimated at around US$72 million—will follow a single-stage, two-envelope bidding process under international standards, with contractors required to meet strict prequalification criteria.
Early engagement with the market will take place at a roadshow scheduled for 25 May 2026 in Nadi, Fiji, during the Pacific Infrastructure Business Opportunities Seminar.
The session will bring together international and regional contractors to review technical details, procurement plans and contract conditions.
Officials say the engagement is designed to test market interest and improve competition before the formal tender process begins.
The Government said the objective is to “inform the market of the main aspects of the main contraction contract under Alaoa Multipurpose Dam Project (AMDP) and seek its inputs to ensure that the project achieves value for money in procurement through enhancing competition among best qualified bidders.”
The workshop will outline project design, procurement strategy and timelines, while also allowing potential bidders to raise concerns and provide feedback on technical and contractual elements.
The dam is classified as a high hazard structure and is being designed to withstand extreme flood events and seismic activity, highlighting the scale and complexity of the project.
Procurement activities will follow ADB policies and directives, with the prequalification process expected to be launched in the third quarter of 2026.
Once completed, the project is expected to play a key role in protecting Apia from flooding, improving water reliability and reducing reliance on imported fuels through increased renewable energy generation.
