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Of the Central Africa Backbone (CAB) Project – Gabon Component

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Of the Central Africa Backbone (CAB) Project – Gabon Component Summary - Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) of the Central Africa Backbone (CAB) Project – Gabon Component October 2019 1 1. Introduction Gabon joined the CAB4 Gabon project in order to expand the geographical coverage and usage of high-bandwidth networks and to reduce the cost of communications services on its territory. In this regard, the Gabonese government has requested support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) in the form of supplementary financing to: (i) build 2185 km of priority fibre cable connections nationwide; and (ii) build a National Datacentre – CSIRT/SOC/PKI platform subdivided into two units, one in Franceville municipality (Haut Ogooué Province) and another in the Nkok Economic Zone (Ntoum municipality, Estuaire Province). To curb the potential negative environmental and social impacts and outcomes of the project while optimizing its positive impacts and outcomes, it became necessary to conduct an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). The objective of the ESIA was to prevent and judiciously manage any negative fallout from project implementation and to ensure compliance with Gabonese legislation and AfDB requirements. This summary presents the key findings from the environmental and social impact assessment document prepared in August 2019. Besides the introduction, it is divided into the following main sections: (i) project description; (ii) key environmental and social impacts, climate change-related risks and mitigation/enhancement measures and complementary initiatives; (iii) environmental and social monitoring programme; (iv) public consultations and dissemination of information; (v) institutional arrangements and capacity-building requirements; (vi) cost estimates; and (vii) implementation schedule and communication of information. 2. Project Description 2.1. Project Objectives The project objective is to expand the geographical coverage and usage of high bandwidth networks and to reduce communication service costs within the national territory. The CAB - Gabon project is structured around two (2) components, namely: (i) Component A: Phase II of the Central Africa fibre-optic backbone (CAB - GABON); and (ii) Component B: National Datacentre and CSIRT/SOC/PKI Platform. 2.1.1. Component A: Phase II of the Central Africa Fibre-Optic Backbone (CAB - GABON) Under this component, there are plans to deploy telecommunications infrastructure that is fully aligned with the Emerging Gabon Strategic Plan (PSGE). This will specifically entail installing and operating an optical fibre line (approximately 2000 km long) that also comprises active transmission equipment including energy, air-conditioning and environmental systems (Technical Centres). 2.1.1.1. Road Sections Concerned The project scope covers the sections shown in the following table: 2 ID Starting point Midpoints End point Length (Km) 01 Ntoum Cocobeach 83 02 Yombi Junction Mandji and Ndougou Omboué 292 03 Omboué Port-Gentil 120 04 Mouila Mbadi Junction Ndendé 76 05 Mbadi Junction Moabi 63 06 Ndendé Tchibanga 88 07 Tchibanga Loubomo Junction Mayumba 109 08 Loubomo Junction Mougagara 50 09 Ndendé Doussala 48 10 Ndendé Lébamba 34 11 Lébamba M’bigou 85 12 M’bigou Mimongo 73 13 Mimongo Iboundji Junction Koulamoutou 167 14 Lastoursville Matsatsa Moanda 126 15 Okondja Bakwaka 132 16 Bakwaka Makokou 133 17 Makokou Ovan Koumameyong 147 18 Oyem Assock-medzang 37 19 Assok-Ngomo Junction Gabonville Minvoul 100 20 Minvoul Ebomane Junction Nkolmegoua 831 Junction 21 Minvoul Kom 20 22 Lalara Mevang Ndjolé 119 TOTAL (Km) 2185 Figure 1 : CAB-Gabon FO Cable Sections (Pre-site survey) 1 Section measured from Ebomane Junction 10 Km from Minvoul 3 2.1.1.2. Technical Centres The technical centres are of different types. Their characteristics are described in the following table. Type 1 TC – Concrete buildings • Control room (Franceville) • Redundant air-conditioning • Energy system and batteries • Backup generator • Factor for batteries and air-conditioning: 1.25 • Spare parts storage • Allow space for the optical distribution frame (ODF) • Allow outdoor space for generator, pylon or future extension of the building • Allow space for transmission equipment cabinets - initial capacity and future capacity • Allow space for office, toilet, guard; • Allow space for co-location of operators. • Dimension 10mx10m = 100 m 2 Type 2 TC– Concrete buildings • RAG connection to POP, via existing or future link to be determined • Redundant air-conditioning • Energy system and batteries • Backup generator • Factor for batteries and air-conditioning: 1.25 • No control room • No spare parts storage • Allow space for optical distribution frame (ODF) • Allow outdoor space for genset, pylon or future extension of the building • Allow space for transmission equipment cabinets - initial capacity and future capacity • Allow space for office, toilet, guard; • Allow space for co-location of operators. • Dimension 6mx6m = 50 m 2 Type 3 TC– Concrete buildings or Shelters • Physical loop redundancy when possible or by derivation • Co-locate POP/TC • Redundant air-conditioning • Energy system and batteries • Backup generator • Factor for batteries and air-conditioning: 1.25 • No control room • No spare parts storage • Allow space for optical distribution frame (ODF) • Allow outdoor space for genset, pylon or future extension of the building • Allow space for transmission equipment cabinets - initial capacity and future capacity • Allow space for toilet, guard; • Allow space for co-location of operators. • Size 6mx6m = 36 m 2 Type 4 TC - Shelters (containers) • Co-locate POP/TC • Redundant air-conditioning • Energy system and batteries • Backup generator • Factor for batteries & air-conditioning: 1.25 4 • No control room • No spare parts storage • Allow space for optical distribution frame (ODF) • Allow outdoor space for generator, pylon or future extension of the building • Allow space for transmission equipment cabinets - initial capacity and future capacity • Allow space for toilet, guard; • Allow space for co-location of operators. • Size 6mx6m = 36 m 2 2.1.1.3. Network Construction Methods There are three main methods for building the civil engineering structures. The project, in conjunction with the technical services of ANINF, will determine the type of works and the method to be used and these will be specified in the works contract. Manual Method This method entails deploying teams of several hundred people to dig the trenches with shovels and picks. Although it has the advantage of employing local labour, it also has a number of drawbacks, namely: • slow progress of works: a few hundred metres a day; • difficulty obtaining the requisite breadth and depth (for better protection of the fibre-optic cable); and • difficulties digging the trench in areas with hard soil. Manual digging is slightly more cost-effective in countries where cheap labour is abundant. This is not the case in Gabon. Mechanized Installation This entails using excavators or backhoe loaders to lay conduits or a cable deep in the ground. It has many advantages, namely: • faster installation; • the possibility of digging a trench 1.10 metres deep, thus making it possible to bury the conduit approximately 1 metre below the surface; and • a flat trench floor, which contributes to better quality work with very straight ducts (no minor undulations due to uneven trench floors) and hence better laying of the cable (longer sections, fewer splice boxes and consequently better performance). Conventional Mechanized Installation Excavators are used regardless of route relief. However, tree felling and brush clearing may be required prior to digging the trench. It may be necessary to use a bulldozer in building a platform so as to have a flat surface, thus reducing trench floor undulations. 5 Laying of Fibre-Optic Cables at Watercourse Crossings The fibre-optic cable will be passed through the conduits provided on each bridge. To reduce any potentially negative impacts, the works will be executed, alternatively using any one of the three methods described. Specifically: (i) the manual method will be used systematically in towns and villages; and (ii) the mechanized and conventional mechanical methods will be used in the open country. 2.1.2. Component B: National Datacentre / CSIRT/SOC/PKI Platform Under this component, the project intends to establish two datacentres in the Ntoum and Franceville municipalities. These will be buildings housing a number of digital systems (data computation, storage, and transfer equipment). The datacentres will be equipped with cooling and heat recovery systems as well as backup equipment: batteries, UPS and generators. They may host different technologies depending on the application needs; for instance, calculation servers for high-performance computing centres, storage arrays for datacentres or network equipment for telecom operator centres (like meet-me-rooms where all telecom operators connect). These datacentres will comprise the following four main elements: (i) an HQ power supply system, (ii) IT equipment, (iii) power backups, and (iv) a cooling system. (i) HQ Power Supply System This system comprises generators, inverters and equipment enabling the power grid to supply energy to the datacentre without causing any harm to the equipment. This system must therefore ensure a steady and uninterruptible supply of energy. 6 (ii) IT Equipment A rack is a metal cabinet with standard dimensions, generally consisting of a space of 19'' (48.26 cm) for holding computer
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