Initial Environmental Examination Final Report Project No.: 49370-002 October 2020 Turkmenistan: National Power Grid Strengthening Project Volume 4 Prepared by the Ministry of Energy, Government of Turkmenistan for the Asian Development Bank. The Initial Environmental Examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project 81. Out of these IBAs, eight IBAs are located close to phase I Transmission line alignments. Four IBAs are located close to proposed Gurtly (Ashgabat) to Balkanabat Transmission line. And four falls close to existing Sardar (West) to Dashoguz Transmission line. No IBA falls close to Dashoguz-Balkan Transmission line. The view of these IBAs with respect to transmission alignment of phase I are shown at Figure 4.17. 82. There are 8 IBAs along phase II alignment. Two IBAs, i.e. Lotfatabad & Darregaz and IBA Mergen is located at approx 6.0 km &approx 9.10 km from alignment respectively. The view of these IBAs with respect to transmission alignment of phase II is shown at Figure 4.18. : Presence of Important Bird Areas close to Proposed/existing Transmission of phase I Initial Environmental Examination Report, May 2018 updated September 2020 54 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project Presence of Important Bird Areas close to Proposed/existing Transmission of phase II : List of Identified Important bird areas of Turkmenistan International Name Area Latitude Longitude Akjagaya 16508 41.07616667 58.2535 Ayrakly – Garadzhaovlak 55977 38.62833333 59.83533333 Badhyz 200700 35.71833333 61.60166667 Chokrak-Tutly 147962 39.22833333 56.105 Delili - Garajabatyr 39785 37.53916667 54.453 Depmechay 65820 41.222 55.47116667 Deryatakyr 6871 38.355 58.87166667 Dushakerekdag 13003 37.93883333 57.924 Ekerem - Esenguly 18724 37.50383333 53.9045 Erajy 5591 38.77533333 62.35333333 Ersarybaba - Akkyr 157613 40.9695 54.74116667 Garabil 140594 35.9245 63.26916667 Garabogaz - Garshy 2461 40.7905 52.87666667 Garachop 35036 35.28716667 62.54116667 Garadashly - Ekerem 6458 37.97316667 53.82516667 Garadegish 2466 37.42016667 54.4875 Garashor 92513 40.83166667 56.805 Garshy - Tarta 13672 40.33666667 52.70716667 Initial Environmental Examination Report, May 2018 updated September 2020 55 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project Gorelde 23546 40.65466667 62.83516667 Goyungyrlan 3514 41.38683333 58.12166667 Gurtli 1421 38.17433333 58.36866667 Gurykhovudan 19031 37.77366667 58.61666667 Jarsay - Khangui 93573 38.622 61.072 Karabogaz 1227 41.05366667 52.91166667 Ketteshor - Ramankol 12123 39.10166667 62.92466667 Khankhovuz 39032 37.17 61.3215 Kopetdagkhovudan 4407 38.23866667 57.86883333 Koymat - Begarslan 38764 40.35333333 55.92 Koytendag 75289 37.7375 66.47266667 Kurendag - Garagoz 119562 39.50216667 55.45316667 Kurtusuv - Khovudan 37305 37.74833333 58.32616667 Mergen 289 37.923 58.9385 Muskinata 901 42.29133333 59.837 Nargyz 76286 39.708 62.76966667 Ogurjaly island 7466 38.95483333 53.50166667 Repetek 73247 38.60333333 63.25316667 Sarygamysh 503647 41.74266667 57.42383333 Saryyazy 7601 36.3685 62.635 Soltandag - Gyzylburun 11695 38.788 64.19016667 Soltansanjar - Duyeboyun 54632 41.67083333 61.56666667 South Cheleken Bay 29752 39.33716667 53.26666667 Sumbar 211421 38.40333333 56.41883333 Tallymerjen 167701 37.9915 65.52433333 Tejen 162909 36.789 60.7905 Tekejik - Biynekyr 15275 40.1865 55.58566667 Turkmen Bay 54858 39.83833333 53.75883333 Turkmenbashy Bay 267124 39.79116667 53.36166667 Uly Balkan 177916 39.67016667 54.62116667 Uzboy 61411 39.81666667 55.6215 Zeyit - Kelif 85488 37.52533333 65.1035 (Source: Brids Life international, http://datazone.birdlife.org/country/turkmenistan/ibas) 4.12. Other Fauna 83. The fauna of Turkmenistan includes about 13,000 species of animals, including 747 vertebrates and about 12 thousand - invertebrates)8. Turkmenistan's fauna's exceptional zoo- geographic diversity includes a large number of endemic species, or animals that cannot be found anywhere else but in these deserts, mountains and river valleys. Endemity is well 8 Source: http://www.listofcountriesoftheworld.com Initial Environmental Examination Report, May 2018 updated September 2020 56 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project developed among mammals and reptilians, and among invertebrates - among insects. These groups of animals include a whole series of species whose genesis is associated with the centers of morphogenesis on the territory of Turan. The zoo-geographic uniqueness of the fauna is further supported by its broad southern links and the presence of a number of species of animals, birds and reptilians on the borders of their habitats in the deserts and mountains of Turkmenistan. Mammals 84. The desert is home to foxes, wildcats, gazelles, and tortoises, rodents like gopher and jerboas who leave interesting patterns in the sand, while the mountains support goats, cheetahs, lynx, snow leopards, and porcupines. Jackals, wild boars. The plains habitat supports the hedgehog barchans cat, corsac fox, jackals, wild boar, goitered gazelle, rare pink deer, and wild donkeys. Reptiles 85. Several insect species reside there including ants, termites, ticks, beetles, tarantulas, scorpions and spiders, one of which is called a karakurt and is more poisonous than a cobra. Desert reptiles include the giant grey lizard, tortoise, big-eared toad, gecko and dozens of snakes including the cobra. Amphibians 86. The shore of the Caspian Sea in winter is home to flocks of ducks and geese and swans. The abundant sea life consists of herring, sprat, roach and sturgeon. 87. The data of recent years of the Laboratory of Vertebrate Animals of the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna of the State Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources of Turkmenistan show that there are almost 745 species of vertebrates in the country, including: the cyclostomes - 1; (115 ataev K. et al., 2010), others have more than 115 species (Rustamov AK, Shakirova FM, 2013), amphibians - 5, reptiles - 86, birds - 433 and mammals - 106 species. (Refer Table 4.7). : Quantitative correlation of vertebrate species of Turkmenistan S. No. Classes of vertebrates Number of species %% 1 Cyclostomes - Cephalaspidomorphi 1 0.13 2 Bony fishes - Osteichthys 115 15.41 3 Amphibians - Amphibia 5 0.67 4 Reptiles - Reptilia 86 11.52 5 Birds - Aves wallpaper 433 58.04 6 Mammals - Mammalia 106 14.20 Total: 746 100 Source: State committee on Environment Protection and Land resources of Turkmenistan) Initial Environmental Examination Report, May 2018 updated September 2020 57 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project 4.13. Species under threat of extinction and protected species 88. Important fauna of global conservation concern includes the sturgeon of the Caspian coast and Amu Darya, birds, ungulates and other large mammals (Refer list of threatened species at Appendix 4.2). There are significant populations of ungulates in Turkmenistan, such as the globally endangered Asiatic wild ass (Equiuus hemionus) and three subspecies of the vulnerable urial (Ovis urial). Saiga antelopes (Saiga tatarica) occasionally winter in northern areas. Turkmenistan is of global importance for migratory waterbirds, and of high importance for breeding waterbirds and raptors. 4.14. Socioeconomic Environment 89. Administrative Divisions: Turkmenistan is divided into five provinces or welayatlar and one capital city district. The provinces are subdivided into districts. The details of each province with capital city with population is given at Table 4.8 Summary of Each Province with area and population of Turkmenistan Division Capital city Area Pop (2005) 2 Ashgabat City Ashgabat 470 km 871,500 2 Ahal Province Anau 97,160 km 939,700 2 Balkan Province Balkanabat 139,270 km 553,500 2 Daşoguz Province Daşoguz 73,430 km 1,370,400 2 Lebap Province Türkmenabat 93,730 km 1,334,500 2 Mary Province Mary 87,150 km 1,480,400 (Source: Compilation from various reference documents) 90. Demographics of Turkmenistan 2018: As of 1st January 2018, the population of Turkmenistan was estimated to be 5,546,900 people. The proposed alignment covers two major areas i.e. Ashgabat and Balkanbat. The total population of Ashgabat is 727,700 till 2018 and for Balkanabat is 87,822. Daşoguz's population of 2,10,000 (2004 census estimate) is predominantly Turkmen and Uzbek, with smaller numbers of Russians, Koreans, Karakalpaks,and Tatars present. (Encyclopaedia Britannica). Proposed alignment of Phase II is located in two velayats: - Akhalski and Maryiski. Population of Ahal and Mary Province is 939,700 and 1,480,400 respectively. The area along this alignment is very thinly populated and very few hutment can be seen in the agriculture area located close to transmission line alignment. 91. Settlement patterns: The settlement is oriented around two broad divisions (i) an oasis region—characterized by adequate water supply, cultivated lands, and developed industry— composed of the Kopet-Dag and (ii) other oases - a desert region, subdivided into western Turkmenistan, with a well-developed industrial base, and the Karakum,