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Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

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Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 250kWp Standalone AC-DC Coupled Solar Photovoltaic Based Mini Grid Power Plant by Blue Marine Energy Limited September, 2018 Prepared By Blue Marine Energy Limited 18 Rajuk Avenue, Lal Bhaban (1st Floor), Motijheel, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh, Phone: +88029556251, Cell: +880171153672, E-Mail: [email protected] ESIA of 250 kWp Solar Minigrid Power Plant project at St.Martin’s Island, Cox’s Bazar Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Purpose of the Study ............................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Scope of the Work .................................................................................................................. 4 1.4 Extent of the Study .................................................................................................................. 5 1.5 ESIA Content .......................................................................................................................... 5 1.6 Approach and Methodology.................................................................................................... 6 1.6.1 Approach ......................................................................................................................... 6 1.6.2 Methodology ................................................................................................................... 6 2 POLICY, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ......................................................... 11 2.1 General .................................................................................................................................. 11 2.2 Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Act (ECA) 1995, as amended in 2010 ................ 11 2.3 Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Rules, 1997 ......................................................... 12 2.4 Renewable Energy Policy of Bangladesh, 2008 ................................................................... 13 2.5 Guidelines for the Implementation of Solar Power Development Program, 2013 ............... 13 2.6 Remote Area Power Supply Systems (RAPSS) Guideline of 2007 ...................................... 13 2.7 Bangladesh Labor Law, 2006 ............................................................................................... 14 2.8 Compliance under the National Laws ................................................................................... 14 2.9 Policy Guidance .................................................................................................................... 16 2.10 International Legal Obligations ............................................................................................ 18 2.11 Environmental Protected Areas of Bangladesh ..................................................................... 19 2.12 The Japan International Cooperation Agency Requirements ................................................ 22 2.13 World Bank’s Guidelines on Environmental and Social Safeguards Policies ...................... 22 2.14 ADB Guidelines on Environmental and Social Safeguards .................................................. 23 2.15 Environmental Clearance ...................................................................................................... 24 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ................................................................................ 26 3.1 Project Location .................................................................................................................... 26 3.2 Land Classification of the Project Area ................................................................................ 32 3.3 Project Description ................................................................................................................ 32 3.4 Rationale of the Project ......................................................................................................... 35 3.5 Positive and Negative Impacts of Replacing Conventional Electricity Supply System with Solar Mini-Grid System .................................................................................................................... 37 3.6 Land Filling Activities .......................................................................................................... 39 3.7 Site Clearance (SC) from Department of Environment for another Company ..................... 40 4 TECHNOLOGICAL ASPECTS .................................................................................................................. 41 4.1 Proposed Process and Technology ........................................................................................ 41 4.2 Adequacy of Solar Irradiation ............................................................................................... 43 4.3 Opposite Reflection of Solar Panel ....................................................................................... 44 Blue Marine Energy Limited Page | i ESIA of 250 kWp Solar Minigrid Power Plant project at St.Martin’s Island, Cox’s Bazar 4.4 Plant Capacity Selection ....................................................................................................... 44 4.5 Adequacy of Generator Size ................................................................................................. 46 5 DESCRIPTION OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ................................................................... 47 5.1 General .................................................................................................................................. 47 5.2 Physical Environment ........................................................................................................... 47 5.2.1 Climate .......................................................................................................................... 47 5.2.2 Ambient Air Quality ..................................................................................................... 54 5.2.3 Noise Level ................................................................................................................... 55 5.2.4 Physiography ................................................................................................................. 56 5.2.5 Topography ................................................................................................................... 57 5.2.6 Geology ......................................................................................................................... 60 5.2.7 Geomorphology ............................................................................................................ 62 5.2.8 Water Resources ........................................................................................................... 64 5.2.9 Soil Quality ................................................................................................................... 72 5.2.10 Agro-ecological Zones within the Project Area ............................................................ 74 5.2.11 Seismicity ...................................................................................................................... 76 5.3 Climate Change and Natural Disaster ................................................................................... 78 5.3.1 Climate Change and Other Environmental Threats ...................................................... 80 6 DESCRIPTION OF THE ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ........................................................... 81 6.1 Eco-system Diversity ............................................................................................................ 81 6.1.1 Rocky Habitat ............................................................................................................... 82 6.1.2 Sand Dunes and Beach .................................................................................................. 82 6.1.3 Lagoons and Wetlands .................................................................................................. 83 6.1.4 Mangrove Habitat ......................................................................................................... 84 6.1.5 Mudflats ........................................................................................................................ 84 6.1.6 Other Inter-tidal Habitats .............................................................................................. 85 6.1.7 Marine Habitats ............................................................................................................. 86 6.2 Flora ...................................................................................................................................... 88 6.2.1 Terrestrial Vegetation ................................................................................................... 88 6.2.2 Trees .............................................................................................................................. 88 6.2.3 Palm Trees .................................................................................................................... 88 6.2.4 Moraceae ......................................................................................................................
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