Initial Environmental Examination Final Report Project No.: 49370-002 October 2020 Turkmenistan: National Power Grid Strengthening Project Volume 2 Prepared by the Ministry of Energy, Government of Turkmenistan for the Asian Development Bank. The Initial Environmental Examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project 4.3. Physical Environment Topography 48. Most of the surface located in Turkmenistan is a flat desert. The Garagum (Kara Kum) desert occupies all of central Turkmenistan, from the northern to the southern border. The Kopetdag Range extends along the central part of the southern border with Iran. In far eastern Turkmenistan, extent of the Pamir–Alay Range includes the country’s highest point, Mount Ayrybaba, which is 3,137 meters high. The Krasnovodsk and Ustirt plateaus dominate north- western Turkmenistan. Along the Caspian coast, elevations are at or below sea level for as much as 150 km inland. Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan lies in an oasis at the northern foot of the Kopet-Dag range and on the edge of the Karakum Desert, about 19 miles (30 km) from the Iranian frontier. The topographical map of Turkmenistan is given in Figure 4.3. : Topographical Map of Turkmenistan 49. The Ashgabat (Gurtly) to Balknabad Transmission line of phase I alignment traverses through the desert and is in foot hills of the Kpet Dag mountain. Topography throughout the transmission line alignment and substation area are almost flat. The elevation along the alignment varies from 80-200 m amsl. The Dashoguz to Balkan alignment also runs entirely in flat desert area. Initial Environmental Examination Report, May 2018 updated September 2020 36 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project 50. The transmission line alignment between Akhal to Mary of Phase II also traverses through the desert area and agricultural area. Alignment largely passes through flat land with elevation varying from 155 – 341 m amsl. Hills are towards the South direction of proposed alignment at approx 4-5 km. Geography of Turkmenistan 51. Turkmenistan lies between latitudes 35° and 43° N, and longitudes 52° and 67° E. Over 80% of the country is covered by the Karakum Desert with a peculiar environment combining contrasting environmental factors, some in excess, some in short supply. The desert is the habitat for highly specialized types of plants and animals whose genealogical linkages with the arid conditions are old and deep. The centre of the country is dominated by the Turan Depression In the south this depression gradually slopes upward, transitioning to the foothills of Kopetdag and Parapamiz. The Kopet Dag Range, along the southwestern border, reaches 2,912 metres (9,554 feet) at Kuh-e Rizeh (Mount Rizeh). Map showing geography of Turkmenistan is given in Figure 4.4. Initial Environmental Examination Report, May 2018 updated September 2020 37 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project : Topographical Map of Turkmenistan 52. Geomorphologically, the phase II alignment area is associated with the upper quarternary-contemporary alluvial deltoid plain of the Tejen river, within the limits of a poorly broken, low drainage Inklabian delta. The terrain is mild, sloping generally to the north. Drainage and Land Use pattern 53. Almost 80 percent of the territory of Turkmenistan lacks a constant source of surface water flow. The main rivers of this region located only in the southern and eastern peripheries and few smaller rivers lies on the northern slopes of the Kopetdag. The most important river is the Amu Darya, which has a total length of 2,540 kilometres from its farthest tributary, making it the longest river in Central Asia. The Amu Darya flows across north-eastern Turkmenistan and is the main source of water for irrigation and other work in Turkmenistan through network of canal. River's average annual flow is 1,940 cubic meters per second. Other major rivers are the Tejen (1,124 kilometres); the Murgap (852 km); and the Atrek (660 km). A total of 49.12 million hectares are irrigated and drained which are located in all velayats (district), but largest irrigated areas are in Balkan and Akhal velayats. 54. The hydrology of Turkmenistan is determined by the runoff of the Amudarya, Tedjen, and Murghab Rivers and the major man-made “river” – the Karakum ( Gragum local name) Canal. Alignment of phase I and Phase II does not traverse through any waterbody. (Refer Figure 4.4 & 4.6 for drainage pattern). However , The Karakum canal runs along the proposed alignment from Ashgabat to Balkanbat in phase I and crosses the phase II alignment area. All water bodies in phase I alignment were bypassed while finalizing the transmission line alignment. Phase II alignment is following the existing line alignment with presence of no water body. Initial Environmental Examination Report, May 2018 updated September 2020 38 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project (Source: Subject expert preparation based on data analysis and site verifications visits) Drainage Pattern of Turkmenistan Initial Environmental Examination Report, May 2018 updated September 2020 39 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project (Source: Subject expert preparation based on data analysis ) Drainage Pattern of Turkmenistan-Phase II 55. The entire transmission line from Dashoguz -Balkan of phase I alignment pass through desert area. The Asghabat-Balkanabat of phase I alignment also passes mostly through barren & desert area. Land use of RoW (50m) of alignment and 2 km buffer is given in Figure 4.7. Proposed project will not alter the land use of the area. 56. Alignment of transmission line in Phase II, i.e. Akhal to Mary also traverses through agricultural and desert area. Project will not impact the existing land use. Land use of RoW (50 m) of alignment and 2 km buffer of Phase II alignment is given in Figure 4.8. Initial Environmental Examination Report, May 2018 updated September 2020 40 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project (Source: subject expert preparation based on data analysis and site verifications visits) : Land use Map of Alignment RoW and 2 km Buffer Area of Phase I Initial Environmental Examination Report, May 2018 updated September 2020 41 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project (Source: subject expert preparation based on data analysis) : Land use Map of Alignment RoW and 2 km Buffer Area-Phase II Geology & Soil 57. Sandy desert and grey-brown soils cover the largest area of the country. The dominant soil type is desert sandy soil (38.7 per cent of the territory) and sierozem, grey desert soil (25.5 per cent). Pure sands cover 9.1 per cent of the territory and often move under pressure of the wind (deflation). These sand drifts are called barkhans. Takyr5 and takyr-like soil cover 10.4 per cent of the territory. Saline soils (solontchaks) occur in 5.5 per cent of the territory. The remainder includes alluvial soil (0.2 per cent), mountain brown soil (0.6 per cent), humic gley soil (2.7 per cent) and bare soil (7.5 per cent). Seismicity 58. As per Seismic Hazard Distribution Map, provided by world health organization, in 2010, the region from Asghabat to Balkanabat lies in high risk zone with peak ground acceleration range of 2.4 to 4 m/s2, and the region from Dashoguz to Balkanbad lies in low to medium risk zone with peak ground acceleration of 0.2 to 2.4 m/s2 as shown in Figure 4.9. 5 It is a type of relief occurring in the deserts of Central Asia, similar to a playa in the south-western United States. A takyr is usually formed in a shallow depressed area with a heavy clay soil, which is submerged by water after seasonal rains. After the water evaporates, a dried crust with fissures forms on the surface. The crust is primarily formed by filamentous cyanobacteria. Initial Environmental Examination Report, May 2018 updated September 2020 42 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project 59. According to Turkmenistan’s national seismic map, the Mary-Tejen construction site of phase II is located in the zone with seismic intensity of 7-8 points, Tejen-Akhal - 8-9 points (Source: WHO Publications 2010) : Seismic Hazard Distribution Map (Source: WHO, 2010) 60. In recent past 10 Earthquakes of small magnitude varying from 4.1 to 4.9 was felt between 6th Feb 2017 to 7th Jan 2018 with centre located in Balkan region (near Turkmenbasy, Serdar, Gumdag, Balkanabat, and Bojnurd) Natural Disasters 61. Major natural disaster in the country is earthquake only. Other than earthquake, other natural disasters includes mudslides, droughts, dust storms and floods. Flood hazard map of the Turkmenistan is given in Figure 4.10. As per flood hazard map, project area lies in low and very low flood hazard area. Initial Environmental Examination Report, May 2018 updated September 2020 43 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project Source: National Committee for Hydrometry, the cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Flood Hazard Map of Turkmenistan 4.4. Climate 62. The climate of Turkmenistan is continental and extremely dry. This is due to the peculiarities of atmospheric circulation, the intracontinental location of the country, the nature of the underlying surface, and the presence of mountain ranges in the south-east and south.