Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant Environmental Impact ... - IFC

3.7 DECOMMISSIONING
The proposed Project has a lifespan of 20 years. There is currently no
agreement in place which defines what will happen to the facility at the end of
its lifecycle, but it is anticipated that the Project site will be returned to its
original state. A site closure and restoration plan will be developed prior to
initiation of decommissioning activities.
All infrastructure (including the cables and pylon for the connection to the
Benin North Substation) will be dismantled and removed. Machinery, steel
and dismantled materials will be recycled where possible and disposed of at
licensed disposal sites.
3.8 ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES
In order to ensure the environmental and social sustainability of the Project,
the EIA should include an analysis of the potential Project alternatives. The
following section provides an overview of the various alternatives considered
during the design phase and within the EIA process, these include:
• No Project alternative;
• Location alternatives for the power plant; and
• Design, technology and fuel feedstock alternatives.
The preferred alternative will be considered during the assessment of
potential impacts.
3.8.1 No Project Alternative
One of the potential alternatives considered is the No Project Alternative. This
involves retaining the status quo of the Site, ie no development and the Site
would remain covered by disturbed secondary forest and agricultural fields
and activities. There would be no additional air, noise and effluent emissions
into the environment.
The rationale behind the proposed Project is that current demand for
electricity outstrips supply (generation) and, that current electricity supply is
unreliable and suffer interruptions. This is detailed further in Chapter 2. If the
Project does not go ahead, the wider benefits to the stability and availability of
electricity and associated benefits to the national economy will not be realized
and Nigeria’s economic development may therefore be hampered. No
additional employment would be generated during the construction and
operational phases. Furthermore if power demands are not met it is likely
that power production using private diesel generators will increase resulting
in higher emissions of air pollutants (decrease in CO 2 and NOx but increase in
methane) than a gas-fired power plant (Singh, 2001).
The No Project Alternative is not considered to be a viable alternative.
AZURA EDO IPP
3-25
DRAFT EIA REPORT