Table of Content TABLE OF CONTENT ................................................................................................................................ I LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................................. VI LIST OF FIGURES ..........................................................................................................................................VII ACRONYMS AND SYMBOLS ...................................................................................................................... VIII ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND DISCLAIMER .................................................................................................... IX AUTHORS DETAILS AND TASKS ...................................................................................................................... X EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................. XI 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 LEGISLATIVE REVIEW ............................................................................................................................ 3 2.1 ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION ................................................................................................................ 3 2.2 THE ATER ACT ...................................................................................................................................... 4 2.3 ENERGY LEGISLATION ............................................................................................................................. 4 2.4 NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION ACT ................................................................................................ 6 2.5 THE FORESTRY ACT ................................................................................................................................ 6 2.6 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT ...................................................................................................................... 6 2.6.1 The National Water and Sanitation Act .................................................................................. 7 2.6.2 The Town and Country Planning Act ....................................................................................... 7 2.6.3 The Public Health Act .............................................................................................................. 7 2.7 THE ZAMBIA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY ACT ..................................................................................................... 7 2.8 FISHERIES ACT ...................................................................................................................................... 8 2.9 LANDS ACT .......................................................................................................................................... 8 2.10 MINES AND MINERAL DEVELOPMENT ACT .............................................................................................. 8 2.11 NATIONAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION COMMISSION ACT ........................................................................... 8 2.12 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION AND PROTOCOLS ....................................................................................... 9 3.0 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY ....................................................................... 10 3.1 PURPOSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ........................................................................... 10 3.2 SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ............................................................................... 10 4.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................................................... 11 4.1 NEED FOR THE PROJECT ........................................................................................................................ 11 4.2 PROJECT OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................ 12 4.3 PROJECT SCOPE SYSTEM CONFIGURATION AND COST ESTIMATES.................................................................... 13 4.4 LINE ROUTE ALTERNATIVES .................................................................................................................... 14 4.4.1 Itezhi – Tezhi to Muzuma ...................................................................................................... 14 4.4.2 Itezhi – Tezhi – Mumbwa – Lusaka West Upper ................................................................... 15 4.4.3 Itezhi – Tezhi – Mumbwa – Lusaka West Lower ................................................................... 15 4.4.4 No transmission option ......................................................................................................... 15 4.5 EVALUATION OF LINE ROUTE OPTIONS ..................................................................................................... 16 4.6 TRANSMISSION LINE CONSTRUCTION STAGES ............................................................................................. 19 4.7 RAW MATERIALS ................................................................................................................................. 19 4.8 PRODUCTS ......................................................................................................................................... 20 4.9 BY PRODUCTS ..................................................................................................................................... 20 4.10 OPERATION PHASE ........................................................................................................................... 20 i 5.0 STUDY METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................................................... 21 5.1 LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................................ 21 5.2 SCOPING AND PUBLIC CONSULTATION ...................................................................................................... 21 5.3 FIELD STUDIES .................................................................................................................................... 21 6.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................... 22 6.1 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................................................... 22 6.1.1 Location ................................................................................................................................ 22 6.1.2 Climate .................................................................................................................................. 24 6.1.3 Topography ........................................................................................................................... 26 6.1.4 Soils ....................................................................................................................................... 26 6.1.5 Geology ................................................................................................................................. 26 6.1.6 Hydrology .............................................................................................................................. 27 6.1.7 Seismicity ................................................................................................................................... 29 6.1.8 Significant pollutant sources ................................................................................................. 31 6.1.9 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................... 31 6.1.10 Water Quality ................................................................................................................... 32 6.1.11 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................ 32 6.1.12 Noise ................................................................................................................................ 33 6.1.13 Visual ................................................................................................................................ 33 6.2 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................................................. 33 6.2.1 Flora ...................................................................................................................................... 33 6.2.1.1 Open Forest with Grass ................................................................................................... 33 6.2.1.2 Miombo Woodland .......................................................................................................... 34 6.2.1.3 Mopane Woodland .........................................................................................................