International Environmental Impact Assessment - Atkins

06Water infrastructureBujagali hydropower project, UgandaClient: AES Nile PowerAES Nile Power proposed the construction of a 25m high damand hydropower facility at Bujagali Falls on the Upper Nile nearJinja, with funding from IFC and Overseas Private InvestmentCorporation. Eight kilometres below the Owen Falls Dam, it isthe next downstream site suitable for developing hydro-electricpower generation.Atkins was commissioned to study the environmental impactof the proposals which included an assessment of the impactsof the associated power line route from Bujagali to Kampala.Population displacement was found to be the principal impactof the dam. We undertook a detailed socio-economic surveyof 5,700 people, who were likely to be displaced or affectedby the project. A public consultation and disclosure plan wasproduced to ensure that all stakeholders were fully involved in theproject planning process. This was followed by a re-settlementand compensation plan that provided full details, includinginstitutional arrangements, for dealing with the displaced people.31