Temperature - European Investment Bank

WEST AFRICAN POWER POOL (WAPP) PÖYRY ENERGY LTD.
Mount Coffee HPP ESIA and RAP 2012-09-18
ESIA Report Page 107
14.3 Impacts
The town chiefs from various towns in the project area are also considered government
workers, but have not been taking salaries.
Other income generating activities are gold mining, oil palm production and charcoal
production. Gold mining is only practiced in two communities; Benben town and
Gbally village. 90% of the people mining in these two towns are from Monrovia and
other parts of Liberia. The local price for a gram of gold is 48-50.00 USD. According to
miners in the gold producing area, a group of 5 persons can produce at least 10-15
grams of gold per week. The gold fields are operated by persons or companies who
obtain licences from the Ministry of Lands and Mines.
Meanwhile, charcoal production is also one of the income generating activities in the
area. 95% of the 15 towns or settlements in the project area upstream of the dam site are
involved in these activities, combined with their farming. A bag of charcoal weighing
20-25 kg measured in a 50 kg rice bag costs 150.00 Liberian dollars (LD) or 2.00 USD
at farm gate, when transported to Monrovia red light market; cost increases to 300-
350.00 LD or 4-5 USD. Transportation per bag of charcoal from the MC HPP area costs
60-80.00 LD.
Oil palm production is practiced by only a few people in the area and specifically men.
The palm trees cultivated are grown randomly on available land (mostly fallow from
former slash and burn cultivation, and not as plantation. The palm cutters move from
one tree to another to gather palm nut bunches to be process into oil. The cost of palm
oil per gallon is 3-4 USD during the dry season and 4-5 USD during the rainy season.
During the dry season, more oil is produced as compared to the rainy season.
� Loss of farm land and crops
� Loss of forest for charcoal production and collection of NTFP
14.4 Mitigation Measures
Farming is the major livelihood activity of communities residing in and adjacent to the
project area, Furthermore NTFPs collection and hunting are important livelihood
activities and following measures are recommended:
� Put in place appropriate policies to compensate communities that may be
affected by the rehabilitation of MC HPP.
� Identify alternative farm land for affected farmers that are accessible and of
comparable productivity.
� Provide farming inputs (fertilizer, seeds, tools) and agricultural extension
services to affected farmers to restart farming activities
� Minimize removal or disturbance of vegetation along ROW, around construction
camps, etc.
� Provide a relocation or resettlement package for affected community
� Encourage alternative livelihood alternatives such as animal husbandry, cane
tree production, rubber farming, provision of vegetable seeds, tree crop farming,