Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ethiopian Electric Power Semera - Galafi 230 kV Transmission Line Project ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (ESIA) FINAL REPORT February 2021 Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia ▪ Ethiopian Electric Power Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Semera - Galafi 230 kV Transmission Line Project Final Report Second Ethiopia-Djibouti Power System Interconnection Project Table of Contents 0 Executive Summary 1 0.1 Introduction and Background 1 0.2 Purpose of the ESIA Study 1 0.3 Project Location 1 0.4 Project Description 2 0.5 Policy and Legal Framework 3 0.6 Methods of Assessment 3 0.7 Description of the Baseline Environment 3 0.8 Project Alternatives 5 0.9 Potential Socio-Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures 5 0.10 Stakeholder Consultation 10 0.11 Environmental Management, Monitoring and Evaluation 11 0.12 Institutional Framework for Implementation of the ESIA 11 0.13 Capacity of EEP’s Environment and Social Affairs Office 12 0.14 Environmental Mitigation and Management Costs 12 0.15 Conclusions and Recommendations 12 1 Introduction 13 1.1 Background of the Study 13 1.2 Purpose of the ESIA Study 14 1.3 Objectives of the Study 14 1.4 Approach and Methodology 14 1.5 Scope and Limitations of the study 17 1.5.1 Scope 17 1.5.2 Limitations 17 1.6 Report Structure 18 2 Project Description 19 2.1 Background 19 2.2 Project Justification 19 2.3 Project Location 20 2.4 Salient Features of the Project 21 2.4.1 Transmission Line Route Description 21 2.4.2 Transmission Tower 22 2.4.3 Right of Way /RoW/ 22 2.4.4 Associated Facilities: Semera Substation and Galafi – Negad 230 KV TL 22 MDI Consulting Engineers Printed: 11/02/21 i Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia ▪ Ethiopian Electric Power Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Semera - Galafi 230 kV Transmission Line Project Final Report Second Ethiopia-Djibouti Power System Interconnection Project 2.5 Ancillary Activities 23 2.5.1 Construction Phase Activities 23 2.5.2 Access Roads 24 2.5.3 Construction of camp 24 2.5.4 Spoil Disposal Site 24 2.5.5 Quarries and borrow pits 24 2.5.6 Water Supply Requirements 24 2.6 Labour Requirements 24 2.7 Testing and Commissioning 25 2.8 Operation and Maintenance 25 2.9 Decommissioning 25 3 Environmental Policy, Legal & Administrative Framework 26 3.1 Federal Environmental Policy, Legal and Institutional Framework 26 3.1.1 Institutional Framework 26 3.1.2 Constitution of Ethiopia 30 3.1.3 Relevant Environmental and Sectoral Policies and Strategies 30 3.1.4 Proclamations, Regulations and Directives 33 3.2 Environmental Guidelines 35 3.3 Energy Policy, Regulation and Proclamation with Emphasis for Energy Transmission and Distribution 36 3.3.1 Energy Policy 36 3.3.2 Proclamation on Energy 37 3.3.3 Regulations on Electricity Operations 37 3.4 Directive on Clearance of Overhead Electric Lines and Quality of Supply 38 3.5 Legislation Governing Land Acquisition, Compensation and Resettlement 38 3.5.1 The Constitution of Ethiopia 39 3.5.2 Proclamation on Expropriation of Landholding (Proclamation No.1161/2019) 39 3.5.3 Council of Ministers Regulations No. 472/2020 41 3.5.4 Rural Land Administration and Land Use Proclamation No. 456/2005 45 3.6 Ethiopia’s Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Strategy 46 3.7 Regional and International / Multilateral Agreement 46 3.8 Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies and Procedures of African Development Bank 48 3.8.1 The Integrated Safeguards Systems (ISS) of the AfDB, 2013 48 3.8.2 Environmental and Social Assessment Procedures of AfDB Public Sector Operations, June 2001 50 MDI Consulting Engineers Printed: 11/02/21 ii Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia ▪ Ethiopian Electric Power Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Semera - Galafi 230 kV Transmission Line Project Final Report Second Ethiopia-Djibouti Power System Interconnection Project 3.8.3 The African Development Bank (AfDB) Environmental & Social Assessment Procedures (ESAP) 55 4 Baseline Environment 58 4.1 General 58 4.2 Physical Environment 58 4.2.1 Topography and Climate 58 4.2.2 Land Cover and Land Use 58 4.2.3 Soils 59 4.2.4 Geology 60 4.2.5 Water Resource 61 4.2.6 Air Quality 62 4.2.7 Ambient Noise 62 4.3 Biological Environment 62 4.3.1 Natural Vegetation and Flora 62 4.3.2 Fauna 63 4.3.3 Avifauna/ Birdlife 64 4.3.4 National Park and Other Protected Areas 64 4.4 Socio-Economic Environment 65 4.4.1 Demographic Characteristics 65 4.4.2 Ethnic, Religious and Language Composition 65 4.4.3 Settlement Pattern, Housing and Household Economy 65 4.4.4 Economic Activities 66 4.4.5 Source of Water Supply 66 4.4.6 Health Services 66 4.4.7 Education Services 67 4.4.8 Access to Electric Power and Household Energy 68 4.4.9 Transportation Service 68 4.4.10 Gender Issues 68 4.4.11 Mobility Pattern of Pastoralists 70 4.4.12 Archaeological, Natural, Cultural and Historical Heritage 70 4.4.13 NGOs Working in the Project Area 71 5 Analysis of Project Alternatives 72 5.1 General 72 5.2 Project Alternatives 72 5.2.1 Option I: “No-Project/do nothing” Alternative 72 5.2.2 Option II: (Route selection case 1) 73 5.2.3 Option III: Route selection case 2 73 MDI Consulting Engineers Printed: 11/02/21 iii Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia ▪ Ethiopian Electric Power Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Semera - Galafi 230 kV Transmission Line Project Final Report Second Ethiopia-Djibouti Power System Interconnection Project 5.2.4 Option IV: Route selection case 3 74 5.2.5 Option V: Route selection case 4 74 5.3 Analysis/Evaluation of Alternatives 74 6 Environmental and Social Impacts 76 6.1 Background 76 6.2 Beneficial/Positive Impacts 76 6.3 Assessment of Impacts & Identification of Mitigation/Management Measures 77 6.4 Impacts During Pre- Construction Phase 84 6.4.1 Land Acquisition 84 6.4.2 Housing and Other Structures 84 6.4.3 Imapcts on Graveyard 85 6.4.4 Impacts on Vulnerable and Underserved Groups 86 6.5 Impacts during Construction 86 6.5.1 Impacts on Socioeconomic Environment 86 6.5.2 Adverse Impact on Biological Environment 88 6.5.3 Adverse Impacts on Physical Environment 89 6.6 Impacts during Operation Phase 90 6.6.1 Adverse Impact on Socio -Economic Environment 90 6.6.2 Adverse Impact on Biological Environment 90 6.6.3 Adverse Impacts on Physical Environment 91 6.7 Impact during Decommissioning Phase 91 6.7.1 Negative Socioeconomic Impacts 91 6.7.2 Adverse Impacts on Biological Environment 91 6.7.3 Adverse Impacts on Physical Environment 92 6.8 Cumulative Impact 92 6.8.1 Land Use 92 6.8.2 Wildlife Reserve 92 6.8.3 Bird Populations 93 6.8.4 Air Quality 93 6.8.5 Traffic and Transportation 93 6.8.6 Noise 93 6.9 Uncertainties Regarding Land and Property Expropriation 93 6.10 Uncertainties in Impact Assessment 94 7 Mitigation/Enhancement Measures and Complementary Initiatives 95 7.1 Pre – Construction Phase 95 7.1.1 Land acquisition 95 7.1.2 Protection of Graveyards 95 MDI Consulting Engineers Printed: 11/02/21 iv Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia ▪ Ethiopian Electric Power Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Semera - Galafi 230 kV Transmission Line Project Final Report Second Ethiopia-Djibouti Power System Interconnection Project 7.2 Construction Phase 95 7.2.1 Archaeological, Cultural, Religious and Historical Sites 95 7.2.2 Public and Workers Health and Safety 95 7.2.3 Traffic Load and Safety 96 7.2.4 Vegetation Clearance 97 7.2.5 Wildlife and Habitats 97 7.2.6 Wildlife Reserve 97 7.2.7 Noise 98 7.2.8 Land Contamination 98 7.2.9 Soils 99 7.2.10 Air Quality 99 7.3 Operation Phase 100 7.3.1 Health Effects of Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF) 100 7.3.2 Risks of Electrocution and Accidents during Maintenance 100 7.3.3 Risk of Electrocution and Collisions of Birds 100 7.3.4 Waste Generation and Visual Amenity 101 7.3.5 Noise 101 7.4 Decommissioning Phase 101 7.4.1 Dust 101 7.4.2 Traffic Management 101 7.4.3 Noise 101 7.5 Complementary Initiatives 101 8 Public and Stakeholders’ Consultation 102 8.1 Introduction 102 8.2 Objectives 102 8.3 The Consultation Process and Findings 102 8.4 ESIA Report Disclosure and Clearance 107 8.4.1 Background 107 8.4.2 Disclosure Plan 108 9 Environmental Management Plan 109 9.1 General Consideration 109 9.2 Pre-construction Phase 109 9.3 Construction Phase 110 9.4 Post-construction Phase 111 9.5 Institutional Arrangement for Implementing the ESMP 111 9.5.1 Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy 111 9.5.2 Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission 111 MDI Consulting Engineers Printed: 11/02/21 v Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia ▪ Ethiopian Electric Power Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Semera - Galafi 230 kV Transmission Line Project Final Report Second Ethiopia-Djibouti Power System Interconnection Project 9.5.3 Ethiopian Electric Power 114 9.5.4 The HSE Manager/Contractor 114 9.5.5 Environmental Inspector 114 9.5.6 Woreda Land Administration and Use and Environmental Protection, Forest and Climate Change Offices 115 9.6 The Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) 115 9.7 Capacity Building and Training 126 9.7.1 Training and Capacity Building for construction workers 126 9.7.2 Training and Capacity Building 126 9.8 Public Grievance Management Procedure 126 9.8.1 Purpose and Scope 126 9.8.2 Sources of Public Complaints/Grievance 127 9.8.3 Grievance Management Processes 127 9.8.4 Investigating a Grievance 128 9.8.5 Monitoring and Reporting 129 9.8.6 Communication of the Plan 129 9.9 Stakeholder Engagement PLan 132 10 Environmental Monitoring Plan 137 10.1 General Considerations 137 10.1.1 Pre-construction Phase 137