ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Public Disclosure Authorized PROCESS OF THE MOZAMBICAN INTEGRATED TRANSMISSION BACKBONE SYSTEM (STE PROJECT) – PHASE 1: VILANCULOS - MAPUTO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY FINAL REPORT Public Disclosure Authorized VOLUME I – INTRODUCTION, PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BASELINE ASSESSMENT Public Disclosure Authorized Illuminating the Transformation of Mozambique Public Disclosure Authorized February 2019 ESIA Process for the Mozambican Integrated Transmission Backbone System (STE Project) – Phase 1: Vilanculos - Maputo ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS OF THE MOZAMBICAN INTEGRATED TRANSMISSION BACKBONE SYSTEM (STE PROJECT) – PHASE 1: VILANCULOS - MAPUTO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY FINAL REPORT VOLUME I – INTRODUCTION, PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BASELINE ASSESSMENT Electricidade de Moçambique, E.P. Av. Zedequias Manganhela, No. 267 Prédio Jat IV – 1st Floor Maputo, Mozambique Tel: +258 21308946 Fax: +258 21431029 February 2019 Environmental Impact Study – Final Report; ii Volume I – Introduction, Project Description and Baseline Assessment ESIA Process for the Mozambican Integrated Transmission Backbone System (STE Project) – Phase 1: Vilanculos - Maputo LIST OF VOLUMES Volume I – Introduction, Project Description and Baseline Assessment Chapter 1 – Introduction Chapter 2 – Legal and Regulatory Framework Chapter 3 – ESIA Approach and Methodology Chapter 4 – Project Description Chapter 5 – Project Areas of Influence Chapter 6 – Baseline Assessment Volume II – Impact Assessment and Mitigation Measures Chapter 7 – Impact Assessment and Mitigation Measures Chapter 8 – Public Participation Process Chapter 9 – Conclusions and Requirements Volume III – Environmental Management Plan Chapter 1 – Introduction Chapter 2 – Roles and Responsibilities Chapter 3 – Requirements for Detailed Design Chapter 4 – Mitigation Measures for the Construction Phase Chapter 5 – Mitigation Measures for the Operational Phase Chapter 6 – Environmental and Social Management Programs Volume IV – Annexes Annex I – Correspondence with MITADER Annex II – Biodiversity Species Lists Annex III – Vegetation Units Maps Volume V – Public Participation Process Report Chapter 1 – Introduction Chapter 2 – Public Consultation during the EPDA Phase Chapter 3 – Public Consultation during the EIS Phase Chapter 4 – Comments and Responses Register Environmental Impact Study – Final Report; iii Volume I – Introduction, Project Description and Baseline Assessment ESIA Process for the Mozambican Integrated Transmission Backbone System (STE Project) – Phase 1: Vilanculos - Maputo NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY Introduction Electricidade de Moçambique, E.P. (EDM) is planning the implementation of the Mozambican Integrated Transmission Backbone System – the STE Project. The STE Project is a major power transmission project linking the Provinces of Tete and Maputo, through extra high voltage transmission lines. The goals of this Project are to connect and integrate the current two isolated power systems in Mozambique and to allow the evacuation to the southern region of surplus power generated in the north. Due to its complexity, EDM plans to develop the STE Project in phases. Currently, EDM is proposing the implementation of Phase 1 of the STE Project: Vilanculos – Maputo, which includes a 561 km long 400 kV line connecting these two cities, the construction of three new substations (in Vilanculos, Chibuto and Matalane) and the upgrade of the Maputo substation. In order to obtain the Environmental License required in terms of the Environmental Law (Law No. 20/1997, of 1 October) for the development described above (hereafter the “Project”), EDM developed an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Process. This ESIA was prepared in accordance with national legislation, particularly the ESIA Regulation (Decree No. 54/2015, of 31 December) and associated decrees, as well as with the Southern African Power Pool and World Bank environmental and social policies, and international best practice ESIA standards, namely the IFC Performance Standards. Project Description The STE Project Phase 1 includes a new 561 km long 400 kV HVAC transmission line between Vilanculos and Maputo, the construction of three new substations - Vilanculos, Chibuto and Matalane (in Marracuene) and the upgrade of the Maputo substation (in Boane) (see Figure 1). The proposed alignment crosses three Provinces (Inhambane, Gaza and Maputo) and thirteen districts. The Vilanculos – Maputo power line alignment under assessment in this ESIA is the result of a long iterative design process that has been developed during the last 10 years, through multiple engineering and environmental studies. The proposed alignment was initially evaluated in 2008, in a pre-feasibility study. The alignment was the further optimized in 2009, to which was followed a full ESIA, conducted between 2009 and 2011. As the Project didn’t move forward at the time, for several reasons, the alignment was again optimized in 2015, through a Feasibility Study. The proposed transmission line will start in the new Vilanculos substation and will end in Maputo substation (in Boane District), which wil be upgraded. The main characteristics of the proposed 400 kV transmission line are presented in Table 1. Environmental Impact Study – Final Report; iv Volume I – Introduction, Project Description and Baseline Assessment ESIA Process for the Mozambican Integrated Transmission Backbone System (STE Project) – Phase 1: Vilanculos - Maputo Vilanculos Substation Chibuto Substation Matalane Substation Maputo Substation Figure 1 – Project Location Environmental Impact Study – Final Report; v Volume I – Introduction, Project Description and Baseline Assessment ESIA Process for the Mozambican Integrated Transmission Backbone System (STE Project) – Phase 1: Vilanculos - Maputo Table 1 – Main characteristics of the new 400 kV transmission line Technical Aspect 400 kV Line Total length 561 km Right-of-Way (RoW) width 100 m Type of Towers Self-supporting and guyed V-towers Tower spacing average 450 m Height of the Towers 20 to 35 m Average tower base footprint 10 m x 10 m (100 m2) Further to the project components described above, the implementation of the Project will require some support components and activities, namely: Development and maintenance of right-of-way (RoW) - a 100 m corridor (50 m to each side of the center line) will be established as the line RoW. Clearance of vegetation, as well as removal of built structures, from the RoW will be required, so as to protect the system from windfall, contact with trees and braches and other potential hazards that may result in damage to the system, power failures or forest fires. The RoW will also be utilized to access, service and inspect the overhead line (OHL); Construction of access roads, for line construction and maintenance purposes; Exploration of borrow pits to provide aggregates and inert materials; Establishment of construction camps, including temporary workers’ accommodation and temporary storage sites for equipment and materials. The location of temporary access roads, borrow pits and construction camps is not known at this stage. The location of these support infra-structures will be the responsibility of the construction Contractor, under the supervision of EDM. The Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP – Volume III of the EIS report) provides some guidance for these auxiliary infrastructures, so as to minimize their potential impacts. The global project cost for the STE Project Phase I is estimated at 600 million USD (American dollars). Please note that this figure is an estimate and may change during detailed engineering. Project’s Areas of Influence The baseline description and the impact assessment of the Project is based on the delineation of two study areas that cover all physical, biological and social elements that may be directly or indirectly affected by the Project or that could affect its implementation, in all of its phases. These study areas are the Project’s areas of influence, including an area of direct influence (ADI) and an area of indirect influence (AII). When defining these areas, it is useful to consider biophysical and socioeconomic impacts separetly. The Project’s Area of Direct Influence (ADI) is delineated as follows: Environmental Impact Study – Final Report; vi Volume I – Introduction, Project Description and Baseline Assessment ESIA Process for the Mozambican Integrated Transmission Backbone System (STE Project) – Phase 1: Vilanculos - Maputo Biophysical environment: a 300 m wide corridor, centered on the Project’s alignment, as most of the direct biophysical impacts are expected to be felt in the immediate surroundings of the footprint area; Socioeconomic environment: the communities crossed by the proposed RoW. A 2 km wide corridor centered on the line’s route was assumed to encompass all crossed communities. The Project’s Area of Indirect Influence (AII) is defined as follows: Biophysical environment: a 2 km wide corridor, centered on the Project’s alignment; Socioeconomic environment: the boundaries of the districts crossed by the overhead line, as benefits and impacts from Project-induced changes in the ADI are likely to extend to other communities within these territories. Baseline Characterization Physical Environment The proposed route develops along the Great Coastal Plains geomorphological zone, with elevations of less than 200 m. This zone is dominated by soft sediments and covers the region south