Ethiopia-Sudan Power System Interconnection Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Final Report CONTENTS Table of Contents Abbreviations Acknowledgements Executive Summary 1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Background ................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Previous Studies ........................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Present Study ............................................................................................................ 2 1.4 Scope and Objectives of ESIA................................................................................... 2 1.5 Methodology and ESIA Resourcing ........................................................................... 3 1.5.1 Overview ...................................................................................................... 3 1.5.2 Option C ...................................................................................................... 3 1.5.3 Option B (B1/B2) ......................................................................................... 4 1.5.4 Option A ....................................................................................................... 5 1.5.5 ESIA Resourcing ......................................................................................... 5 2 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework......................................... 6 2.1 Ethiopia ...................................................................................................................... 6 2.1.1 The Federal Constitution ............................................................................. 6 2.1.2 Environmental Policy of Ethiopia ................................................................. 7 2.1.3 Sectoral Policies .......................................................................................... 7 2.1.4 Institutional Arrangement for Environmental Protection .............................. 8 2.1.5 Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation ....................................... 8 2.1.6 Environmental Pollution Control Proclamation ............................................ 9 2.1.7 Legislation on Expropriation of Land and Compensation............................ 9 2.1.8 Legislation on Preservation of Cultural Heritage ....................................... 10 2.1.9 Environmental Guidelines ......................................................................... 10 2.1.10 Institutional and Administrative Framework .............................................. 11 2.1.11 Adequacy of Environmental Procedures and Guidelines .......................... 12 2.2 Sudan .......................................................................................................................13 2.2.1 The Interim National Constitution .............................................................. 13 2.2.2 Legislative Framework............................................................................... 15 2.2.3 Relevant Policies and Institutions .............................................................. 18 2.3 Institutional Capacity within Ethiopian and Sudanese Power Authorities ...............19 2.3.1 EEPCO ...................................................................................................... 19 Ethiopia-Sudan Power System Interconnection ESIA: Final: October 2006 i in Association with ACP Consulting Engineers 2.3.2 NEC ........................................................................................................... 19 2.4 Private Sector Capacity ...........................................................................................19 2.5 World Bank ..............................................................................................................20 2.5.1 Environment .............................................................................................. 20 2.5.2 Rural Development .................................................................................... 20 2.5.3 Social Development ................................................................................... 20 2.6 International Agreements .........................................................................................21 3 Project Description ................................................................................. 23 3.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................23 3.2 Location and Justification ........................................................................................23 3.3 Route Description Option C .....................................................................................24 3.4 Description of Proposed Works ...............................................................................24 3.5 Ancillary Facilities and Services ..............................................................................25 3.6 Operation and Maintenance Activities .....................................................................25 3.7 Area of Impact .........................................................................................................25 3.8 Project Implementation ............................................................................................26 3.9 Project Cost .............................................................................................................26 4 Baseline Data .......................................................................................... 27 4.1 Methodology ............................................................................................................27 4.2 Physical Environment ..............................................................................................27 4.2.1 Topography and Geology .......................................................................... 27 4.2.2 Soils ........................................................................................................... 29 4.2.3 Climate....................................................................................................... 29 4.2.4 Surface and Groundwater Resources ....................................................... 31 4.3 Biological Environment ............................................................................................32 4.3.1 Vegetation ................................................................................................. 32 4.3.1.1 Vegetation of Option C ...............................................................32 4.3.1.2 Vegetation of Option B (B1/B2) ..................................................34 4.3.1.3 Vegetation of Option A ...............................................................35 4.3.2 Wildlife ....................................................................................................... 35 4.3.2.1 Wildlife of Option C .....................................................................36 4.3.2.2 Wildlife of Option B (B1/B2) .......................................................36 4.3.2.3 Wildlife of Option A .....................................................................37 4.3.3 Areas of Ecological Importance ................................................................. 37 4.4 Socio-cultural Environment ......................................................................................37 4.4.1 Administrative Framework ......................................................................... 38 4.4.1.1 Option C .....................................................................................38 4.4.1.2 Option B1/B2 ..............................................................................39 4.4.1.3 Option A .....................................................................................40 4.4.2 Demographic Features .............................................................................. 40 4.4.2.1 Option C .....................................................................................40 4.4.2.2 Option B1/B2 ..............................................................................42 Ethiopia-Sudan Power System Interconnection ESIA: Final: October 2006 ii in Association with ACP Consulting Engineers 4.4.2.3 Option A .....................................................................................45 4.4.3 Education ................................................................................................... 47 4.4.3.1 Option C .....................................................................................47 4.4.3.2 Option B1/B2 ..............................................................................48 4.4.3.3 Option A .....................................................................................48 4.4.4 Health ........................................................................................................ 50 4.4.4.1 Option C .....................................................................................50 4.4.4.2 Option B1/B2 ..............................................................................51 4.4.4.3 Option A .....................................................................................52 4.4.5 Cultural Heritage ........................................................................................ 52 4.5 Economic Activities ..................................................................................................54