Bujagali Energy Limited I Bujagali Hydropower Project, Uganda Public Consultation and Disclosure Plan (PCDP) November 2006
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El 512 VOL. 6 f BURNSiDE Public Disclosure Authorized Bujagali Hydropower Project, Uganda Public Consultation and Disclosure Plan (PCDP) DRAFT Public Disclosure Authorized Prepared by R.J. Burnside International Limited, Canada Dillon Consultants Limited, Canada In association with Public Disclosure Authorized Ecological Writings #1, Inc., Canada Enviro and Industrial Consult (U)Ltd, Uganda Frederic Giovannetti, Consultant, France Tonkin & Taylor International Ltd., New Zealand November 2006 File No: I-A 10045 Public Disclosure Authorized of preparation. The material in this reporlt reflects best judgement in light of the information available at the time Any use which a third party makes of this report, or any reliance on or decisions made based on it, are the for damages, if responsibilities of such third parties. R. J. Burnside International Limited accepts no responsibility any, suffered by any third party as a result of decisions made or actions based on this report. Bujagali Energy Limited i Bujagali Hydropower Project, Uganda Public Consultation and Disclosure Plan (PCDP) November 2006 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ................................................... 1 1.1 Project Description ................................................ 2 1.2 Applicable Laws, Regulations and Policies to Public Engagement ....... ................... 2 1.2.1 The Republic of Uganda ............................................. 2 1.2.2 Project Lenders .................................................. 3 2.0 Stakeholder Analysis ............................................. 8 2.1 Areas of Influence/Stakeholders ............................................ 8 2.1.1 Description of Stakeholders .......................................... 9 3.0 Stakeholder Engagement .......................................... 11 3.1 Previous Public and Agency Consultations ................................. 11 3.2 BEL Community Engagement Activities ................................... 13 3.3 BEL Community Engagement Activities ................................... 19 3.3.1 Phase 1 - Initial Stakeholder Consultation ................................ 19 3.3.2 Phase 2 Release of the SEA Terms of Reference and Draft PCDP ................. 22 3.3.3 Phase 3 - Release of SEA Consultation Summary Report ....................... 38 4.0 Summary of Key Issues ........................................... 47 5.0 Future Consultation Events ........................................ 52 5.1 Phase 4 - Release of the SEA Report and Action Plans ......................... 52 5.2 Phase 5 - CDAP Planning Consultation ................................... 55 5.3 Phase 6: Ongoing Project Communication ............................................ 56 6.0 Disclosure Plan ................................................ 57 Tables Table 2.1: Consultation Activity Summary ............................................................ 8 Table 3.1: Summary of Previous Key Issues .............................................................. 12 Table 3.2: IFC Consultation Requirements ............................................................... 14 Table 3.3: Initial Government Agency Consultations ............................. 19 Table 3.4: Summary of Phase 1 NGO Meetings ............................................................. 24 Table 3.5: Summary of Phase 2 HPP Community Discussions .......................................... 33 Table 3.6: Summary of Issues from Kingdom Meetings .................................................... 35 Table 3.7: Key Issues/Actions from October 5 & 6, 2006 Budondo and Wakisi Community Meetings ............................................................... 39 Table 4.1: Summary of Key Issues and Responses ............................................................ 47 Table 5.1: Summary of Future (Phase 4) Consultation Activities per Stakeholder Group ............................................................... 54 Appendices Appendix A Summary of Previous Consultation Activities Appendix B Phase 1 Consultation Materials Appendix C Phase 2 Consultation Materials Appendix D Phase 3 Consultation Materials Appendix E Grievance Form R.J. Burnside International Limited IA 10045 Bujagali Energy Limited I Bujagali Hydropower Project, Uganda Public Consultation and Disclosure Plan (PCDP) November 2006 1.0 Introduction This document provides the Public Consultation and Disclosure Plan (PCDP) for the Bujagali Hydropower Project (HPP) as proposed by Bujagali Energy Ltd., henceforth referred to as the "Project Sponsor" or "BEL". This PCDP outlines community engagement activities that were undertaken during the preparation of the Social and Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the HPP. This PCDP also provides an outline of planned community engagement activities that are to be undertaken leading up to and during the construction of the HPP which are to be done in association with the Community Development Action Plan (CDAP) activities. Given that the Bujagali HPP has been identified by the World Bank (WB)/International Finance Corporation (IFC) as a "Category A" project, the Project Sponsor is required to develop and implement a PCDP. A separate PCDP has also been prepared for the associated transmission line project, which is to be implemented by the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL). The International Finance Corporation's (IFC) newly adopted SustainabilityPolicy, Performance Standards and Disclosure Policy have guided the public consultation and disclosure procedures (these policies/standards have replaced the 1998 Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies and 1998 Disclosure Policy). To be consistent with the new IFC policies as noted above, the PCDP is intended to be a means to and fully integrated with the project planning, design and implementation process so as to enhance community benefits. Similar to the SEA, the PCDP is not intended to be a "static" document that only describes what has been undertaken, but perhaps more importantly, plays a role in the overall long-term social and environmental management system for the project that sets into motion a proactive plan to enhance community benefits and minimise negative effects. The PCDP has built on public consultation and disclosure procedures carried out in 1999/2001 by the previous project sponsor, AES Nile Power (AESNP), as well as extensive public consultation carried out by the UETCL Bujagali Implementation Unit (BIU) Team since then, particularly in 2004-2005. Similar to the previous public consultations, BEL has sought to obtain alternative views on the design and construction of the hydropower facility and transmission system, including concerns of potential impacts and ways to mitigate such impacts. Based on this input, BEL has assessed alternatives and considered raised concerns in its decision-making process. Public consultation and disclosure procedures have been and will continue to be carried out in an ongoing, transparent, consistent, up-to-date and equitable manner. Relevant project information has been and will be made accessible in a timely manner and in a language understandable to the groups being consulted. Information included as part of this process has been considered in the preparation of the SEA Report and associated action plans (e.g. the CDAP). R.J. Burnside International Limited I-A 10045 2 Buiagali Energy Limited Bujagali Hydropower Project, Uganda Public Consultation and Disclosure Plan (PCOPI November 2006 1.1 Project Description The project includes a proposed 250 MW hydropower facility located at Dumbbell Island, located 8 km downstream (north) of the Town of Jinja, Uganda on the Victoria Nile. The project consists of a power station housing five 50 MW turbines and a 28 m high dam and associated spillway works (Scott Wilson Piesold, 2004). The project reservoir will occupy an area of 388 ha, approximately 80 ha of which will be newly inundated land and 308 ha of which is area currently occupied by the Victoria Nile. The SEA ToR includes a brief description of the main project components Figure 1 illustrates the project location. In addition to the hydropower generation component of the Bujagali HPP, new and/or upgraded electrical transmission facilities will be necessary to evacuate the power from the Bujagali HPP to the Uganda system grid and load centres. The transmission facilities will be developed by UECTL with assistance from BEL. 1.2 Applicable Laws, Regulations and Policies to Public Engagement The following provides an outline of applicable laws and regulations as they relate to public consultation and engagement for the Republic of Uganda and potential project lenders. 1.2.1 The Republic of Uganda National Environmental Management Policy, NEMA, 1995 Section 3.7 of the Policy specifies that the project sponsor is to involve land and resource users in all phases of environmental planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation at all levels. Participation will be an empowering process and seek to involve women and the youth in environmental planning and decision-making. Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation, NEMA, 1998 As required in Part III Section 12 of the Regulation, the following is required: * Prior to the commencement of the EIA, NEMA may decide to consult and seek public input. This is to be undertaken within four weeks of the submission of the project brief to NEMA. A public notice shall be placed inviting comments. Comments from the public shall be submitted with 21 days of the public notice requesting comments. (Note: