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

Impact Significance
The extent of impacts to employment and economy is expected to be primarily
national and regional, although a number of unskilled positions may be
sourced from local communities, following training and capacity building
initiatives for the local workforce and contractors. Azura Power has also
committed to maximise local employment and contracting, both directly and
through subcontractors. The duration of impacts will extend over the life of
the Project; with certain induced impacts (such as economic activity and
capacity building) continuing beyond Project closure and is therefore longterm
or permanent. As for the probability of impacts, the probability is highly
likely. The overall impact magnitude is considered to be high.
Local employment and contracting is a key priority among local populations.
It is also important to consider strong public resentment amongst some
community members against the neighbouring NIPP Project for its perceived
failure to offer equitable local employment and contracting opportunities to all
three communities. As such, this impact will be viewed with a high degree of
importance by local communities and stakeholders. Evaluation of this impact
also considers the small population at the local level and relatively low
employment, which implies that even a small number of stable, long term jobs
that provide opportunities for training could have a significant positive
impact to household income and spending. Sensitivity to these impacts is
high, due to high local unemployment, high local job expectations and
relatively low levels of training and work experience.
The proponent is committed to ensuring that the requisite infrastructure is put
in place to enable the distribution of electricity (at lower voltages) to the local
communities, as well as evacuation to the national grid at a higher voltage
level. The exact means by which this will be done will be established with the
distribution company. This measure combined with targeted social
investment support to local entrepreneurs will enable the three local
communities to establish small business enterprises that can take advantage of
the increased power supply. The multiplier effects (on all economic sectors) of
this additional power supply will be significant (in an economy where the gap
between supply and demand is amongst the highest in the world).
Therefore, impacts to employment and economy (both locally and nationally)
during the Operation Phase after mitigation, are expected to be positive and
high.
7.13.3 Impact Description and Significance: Decommissioning
Impact Description
Land acquisition for the Project is expected to further reduce the viability of
agriculture as a source of livelihood in the region. However, during the 20
year operation phase, the Project is expected to require a steady workforce of
90 employees, including 50 permanent site employees and 40 ancillary/
AZURA EDO IPP
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DRAFT EIA REPORT