Georgia Electricity Transmission Network Development Projects
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GEORGIA ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION NETWORK DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Non-Technical Summary – Kakheti Prepared for: GSE SLR Ref: 901.12.1 Version No: 1 Final – Disclosure Authorised June 2020 Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE) SLR Ref No:901.12.1 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment June 2020 Volume 1 Non-Technical Summary – Kakheti CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................... 3 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ...................................................... 9 BIODIVERSITY ................................................................................................................ 10 SOCIAL .......................................................................................................................... 12 LANDSCAPE ................................................................................................................... 16 NOISE ............................................................................................................................ 18 HYDROLOGY AND GEOHAZARDS .................................................................................... 21 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT .............................................................. 23 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ........................................................................................ 25 Final – Disclosure Authorised. Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE) SLR Ref No:901.12.1 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment June 2020 Volume 1 Non-Technical Summary – Kakheti Introduction The Georgia Transmission Network Development Project is a Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE) project to develop a number of new overhead transmission lines and substations to be constructed on the Georgian electricity network. The Project comprises five separate projects which are geographically discrete from one another. This Non-Technical Summary describes the results of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for new electricity network infrastructure in Kakheti, the details of which are outlined in Table 1.1. Figure 1 and 2 illustrates the location of the Kakheti Project. TABLE 1.1 DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT COMPONENTS Project Component D - Reinforcement of the transmission infrastructure in Kakheti Project Name 110/220kV transmission line from Gurjaani to Telavi, on 220kV towers Gurjaani line 110kV transmission line from Telavi to Akhmeta, on 220kV towers Akhmeta line Rehabilitation of the existing 110kV transmission line into Tsinandali Substation Tsinandali line 110kV transmission line into Mukuzani Substation Mukuzani line Rehabilitation and extension of the existing 110kV Akhmeta Substation Akhmeta Substation Rehabilitation and extension of the existing 110/220kV Telavi Substation Telavi Substation Rehabilitation of the existing 110kV Tsinandali Substation Tsinandali Substation Rehabilitation of the existing 110kV Mukuzani Substation Mukuzani Substation Rehabilitation and upgrade of the existing 110/220kV Gurjaani Substation Gurjaani Substation The Project is being promoted by the Georgian State Electrosystem JSC (GSE) and is being funded by KfW Development Bank (KfW). The Project forms part of the GSE Ten Year Network Development Plan[1], which outlines the need for improvements to the electricity network and for new electricity connections for new energy generation projects. It has been a requirement of KfW that this Project is subject to an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment in accordance with international standards. This Project is being assessed against the EBRD Performance Requirements which are set out in the EBRD Environment and Social Policy[2] and the European Union Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment involves undertaking a number of studies to identify the potential impacts of a development on environmental and social aspects in order to assess the development’s merits, the ability of KfW to support the development and whether mitigation measures can be adopted to avoid, control or minimise any potential impacts. An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report has been prepared and is presented in eight volumes, structured as follows: • Volume 1 – Non-Technical Summary; ______________________ 1 GSE, Ten Year Network Development Plan of Georgia 2018-2028, 2018 2 EBRD (May 2014) Environmental and Social Policy Final – Disclosure Authorised Page 1 Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE) SLR Ref No:901.12.1 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment June 2020 Volume 1 Non-Technical Summary – Kakheti • Volume 2 –Project Definition; • Volume 3 – Biodiversity; • Volume 4 – Social; • Volume 5 – Physical Environment (including Landscape, Noise and Hydrology & Geology); • Volume 6 – Stakeholder Engagement Plan; • Volume 7 – Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Compensation Framework; and • Volume 8 – Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP). An Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) has also been prepared for the Lenders to set out the key actions and measures that GSE will implement during the different phases of the Project: from the current disclosure, through construction, and then during the operation. The ESAP is used by the Lenders to monitor GSE. English and Georgian versions were disclosed on the GSE website (http://www.gse.com.ge/home_ge) and lenders’ website (https://www.ebrd.com/home) on the 9 August 2019. Hard copies of the ESIA for each Components were made available in Georgian at Municipalities crossed by the Project on the 26 August (Component D). Hard copies in Georgian at the EBRD Office in Tbilisi. The documents were disclosed for 120 days. Feedback forms accompanied all the disclosure documentation to enable the registering of comments and concerns on the Project. These comments have been integrated in the final ESIA report package, out of which this NTS summarised the content. WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? ONLINE http://www.gse.com.ge/projects/international-projects/ENIP/Environmental-and-Social-Impact-Assessment- Report https://www.ebrd.com/work-with-us/projects/esia/power-grid-enhancement-project.html ON-SITE GSE Head Office, 2 Baratashvili Street, Tbilisi 0105, Georgia; In the Municipality Offices in Adigeni, Akhaltsikhe, Akhmeta, Ambrolauri, Chokhatauri, Gurjaani, Kutaisi, Lentekhi, Mestia, Oni, Ozurgeti, Telavi, Tkibuli, Tsageri, Tsalenjika, Tskaltubo, Vani CONTACT DETAILS Zezva Khevedelidze Telephone +995 32 2 510 837 (ext. 461) Final – Disclosure Authorised Page 2 Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE) SLR Ref No:901.12.1 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment June 2020 Volume 1 Non-Technical Summary – Kakheti Project Description Need for Project GSE has developed a Ten Year Network Development Plan of Georgia 2018-2028[1] to identify and implement projects that will meet the need for modifications and improvements to the transmission network of Georgia for the next ten years. The specific Ten Year Network Development Plan goals for the Guria Project are to: • improve the reliability of supply in the Kakheti region and the Dusheti region; and • facilitate the connection of future hydropower projects if they come forward. Project Alternatives Alternative transmission line routes and substation locations have been considered. The purpose of considering alternatives is to ensure the selected option is the most appropriate regarding impact on the environment and local communities, whilst also considering the technical challenges and overall cost. The following sections provide a summary of the alternatives considered. Under the no‐action alternative, the Project would not be constructed, and all direct environmental and social impacts associated with the Project would be avoided. However, the Project is an integral and major part of GSE’s Ten Year Network Development Plan. If the Project was not constructed, then the following benefits would not be possible: • Transmission of the electricity from the new hydropower projects in Georgia to where it is needed; and • Improvements to the reliability of the electricity system. Therefore, a number of alternatives have been considered for the Kakheti project. A summary of these is outlined in the following table along with the reasons why they have been discounted or selected. Transmission Lines Alternatives Considered and Substations This line is the rehabilitation of an existing transmission line. The existing route and an alternative route were both considered. The selected route comprises the route of the Gurjaani line existing line with diversions to avoid areas of settlement and to avoid the need for resettlement. In order to avoid significant resettlement, some small sections of the alternative pass through the Gombori proposed Emerald Site. This line is the rehabilitation of an existing transmission line. The existing route has Akhmeta line been modified to avoid passing through settled areas, including the centre of Akhmeta. The Project includes the rehabilitation and upgrade of existing substations. No Kakheti substations alternatives have been considered for any of the substation locations. Project Component Description Gurjaani Substation The substation is located to the southwest of Gurjaani on the edge of the Tsiv-Gombori Range in a forested area. Nearest housing is approximately 380m away from