The Geoscience team recently completed a field mission to Nikunau Island from 27 October to 3 November 2025 as part of the Solar Salt Preliminary Assessment. The visit focused on testing salinity levels in local ponds and conducting household surveys to better understand the community’s salt consumption, market demand, and interest in locally produced salt.

Nikunau, located in the southern Gilbert Islands, experiences a hot and humid climate with limited rainfall conditions similar to Beru, where a pilot study has already shown promising results. These shared conditions strengthen the potential for sustainable solar salt production as a local livelihood initiative.

Special appreciation goes to the Nikunau Island Council and community members for their cooperation and local guidance throughout the fieldwork, and to PROP for their ongoing support of this important project.