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Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized RUSUMO FALLS HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT – DAM & POWERPLANT COMPONENT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (ESIA) NON -TECHNICAL SUMMARY DRAFT FINAL REPORT - REVISION 1 Public Disclosure Authorized ARTELIA EAU & ENVIRONNEMENT ECHIROLLES 6, Rue de Lorraine 38130 Echirolles, France NILE BASIN INITIATIVE (NBI) / NILE EQUATORIAL Tel.: +33 (0)4 76 33 40 00 LAKES SUBSIDIARY ACTION PROGRAM (NELSAP) Fax: +33 (0)4 76 33 43 32 DATE: FEB. 2013 REF: 1770050 Coteba & Sogreah, same team, enhanced expertise RUSUMO FALLS HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT DAM & POWERPLANT COMPONENT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IM PACT ASSESSMENT (ESIA): NON - TECHNICAL SUMMARY ABSTRACT This Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) has been prepared by Artelia Eau & Environnement on behalf of the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NELSAP), which has the responsibility of managing the Rusumo Falls hydroelectric Project; The project is a Category A project with respect to the World Bank’s OP/BP 4.01 for Environmental Assessment, and encompasses the construction and operation of a concrete gravity dam spanning across the Kagera River upstream of the Rusumo Falls. The hydroelectric scheme will operate as a Run-of-River scheme and there will be no water storage reservoir created upstream of the dam. However the scheme will modify the seasonal flooding regime of the upstream marshland. Also the Kagera River flowing over the Rusumo Falls and along a 500 metre stretch of river downstream from the dam will be bypassed. There will be no changes in hydrology further downstream. This ESIA addresses the environmental and social impacts associated with the construction, operation and decommissioning of the structures and facilities. The project area of influence encompasses areas in Rwanda (Kirehe district of the Eastern Province) and Tanzania (Ngara district of the Kagera region). However, there are no predicted impacts in Burundi. The ESIA has involved modelling of the changes in hydrology of the Kagera and Ruvubu Rivers in order to predict impact on the natural and socioeconomic environment. Bibliographic review, interview with national experts and field surveys have been carried out to determine the environmental sensitivity of project affected areas. A Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), including a Local Area Development Plan has been prepared in parallel to ESIA as is issued as a separate stand-alone document. The findings of this ESIA do not result in recommendations for changing the design of the structures and facilities. / 1770050 / FEB 2013 DRAFT FINAL REPORT – REVISION 1 1 | P a g e RUSUMO FALLS HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT DAM & POWERPLANT COMPONENT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IM PACT ASSESSMENT (ESIA): NON - TECHNICAL SUMMARY NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY INTRODUCTION Background: Lack of electricity is a key constraint hampering development in Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The lack of access to reliable power supply services hampers growth potential, contributes to the poverty and isolation of rural population. The Rusumo Falls Hydropower Project will play a role in increasing regional power generation and to help meet national demand. The Project will enhance economic and social development in the region. Purpose of the Report: The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) have been prepared to assess the environmental and social impacts associated with the Run-of-River (RoR) Development Scheme of the dam and powerplant component of the Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project1. The study has been prepared in order to comply with the Safeguard Policies of the World Bank, which is the main International Funding Agency for the project, and the environment regulatory requirements of Rwanda and Tanzania, which are the countries affected by the Project. Project Developer and the Role of the Nile Basin Initiative and NELSAP: The Project is a joint development undertaking by the Governments of Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania. The project preparation management arrangements consist, at the regional level, of (i) a Council of Ministers in charge of electricity in the three countries; (ii) a Project Implementation Committee (PIC) consisting of the Managing Director/Director General of the Electricity Utility, Director General/ Commissioner/Director of Energy in each country, (iii) a Project Manager at the NELSAP Coordination Unit (NELSAP-CU), and (iv) a Technical Advisory Committee. The aim of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is combating poverty and promoting socioeconomic development in the ten Nile riparian countries. The NELSAP is part of the NBI. The immediate objectives of the NELSAP are to increase the supply of electric power networks in the region and to guide policy makers in the development process in the most efficient, economical and environmentally friendly way. Prior to the start of the implementation phase, a Share Holders' Agreements (SHA) and an Implementation Agreement (IA) will be established between the participating countries. Once the project is in the implementation phase, the role of project owner will be delegated to a Special Purpose Vehicle Project Company (SPV). The SPV shall be responsible for all aspects of project management, including those associated with its environmental and social issues. The SPV will be assisted by an Owner’s Engineer (OE) who will assist and collaborate with the the SPV, carry out the detailed design of the structures and facilities, prepare tender documents and supervise the work of the construction contractor. Financing of the Project: The Governments of Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania will receive financial support from various donors for the preparation of the Project. A Joint Project Development Agreement was signed by the Ministers of Energy of the three countries in March 2006, reconfirming their commitment to jointly develop the Project. A tripartite agreement was signed by the three countries on the 16th February 2012. Current stage of Project Preparation: The feasibility study for the dam and powerplant has been completed and a call for tender has been launched for the owner’s engineer. The owner’s engineer 1 The assessment of the Transmission Lines component is not included in the report. / 1770050 / FEB 2013 DRAFT FINAL REPORT – REVISION 1 2 | P a g e RUSUMO FALLS HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT DAM & POWERPLANT COMPONENT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IM PACT ASSESSMENT (ESIA): NON - TECHNICAL SUMMARY will be responsible for preparing the detailed dam and powerplant design and preparation of tender documents for the construction engineer. SCOPE AND EXTENT OF THE ESIA The ESIA was carried out during the period September 2012 – January 2013 and represents a magnitude of effort of 24 man-months (12 man-months for international staff and 12 man-months for local consultants. The work comprised adjusting, building upon and completing the ESIA for the Full and Intermediate Development Schemes and included carrying out (i) additional environmental expertise on the flora and fauna of the project’s area of influence, (ii) additional consultations with the Project Affected People and (iii) additional hydraulic modelling to build upon previous work to determine the impact of the physical presence of the dam on hydrology and changes to natural seasonal variations in marshland flooding. Contents of the ESIA The ESIA report comprises 7 chapters as follows: Chapter 1 – Introduction: The chapter provides information on the purpose of the report, the project developer. It provides an overview of the project, the scope and extent of the ESIA and a summary of the ESIA report. Chapter 2 – Legal and Administrative Framework: This chapter provides a summary description of the relevant key administrative bodies and legislation and regulations relating the ESIA, environmental protection and resettlement in both Rwanda and Tanzania. The international conventions and standards that are applicable are provided as are the safeguard policies of the World Bank. Chapter 3 – Project Description: This chapter provides a description of the structures and operating modes based on the feasibility study for the Intermediate Development Scheme carried out by SLII in 2011/12. The structures and activities for the RoR scheme will be much the same as for Intermediate Development Scheme. Chapter 4 – Baseline Situation: The description of the environmental and social baseline situation comprises information reported in previous studies and which comprises bibliographic data; findings of environmental field surveys carried out from November 2007 to June 2008 and completed in January 2012 and February 2013, and social surveys conducted in 2011 and 2012. The previous studies have been complemented by the findings of environmental expertise and public consultations carried out by Artelia during the period October 2012 –January 2013. Chapter 5 – Alternatives: The alternatives which are addressed in this chapter comprise: (i) no project alternative, (ii) alternative location, (iii) alternative design and (iv) alternative technology. A comparison of impacts for the Full, Intermediate and Run-of-River Development Schemes is provided and a justification of the selection of the preferred alternative. Chapter 6 – Assessment of Impacts and Mitigation Measures: The assessment and mitigation measures address the impacts of construction, operation and deconstruction on the natural and human environment. The main issues related to the construction phase include (i)