Temperature - European Investment Bank

WEST AFRICAN POWER POOL (WAPP) PÖYRY ENERGY LTD.
Mount Coffee HPP ESIA and RAP 2012-09-18
ESIA Report Page 226
29 MAIN CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
29.1 Main Difficulties Encountered
During the preparation of this Report, the Consultant was faced by two main problems.
These are of entirely different nature and are discussed briefly here.
29.1.1 Lack of Basic Data
Considerable effort was made for gathering relevant information. This, however, proved
to be difficult due to a general lack of sound and reliable information on a number of
points. The main reasons for this are the facts that during the war, a lot of data were lost,
and data collection campaigns were interrupted. Since the end of the war, the institutions
in charge have made considerable efforts to close these gaps; however, this is a lengthy,
costly and time consuming process. No immediate remedy is available for this.
29.1.2 Problem of Orientation in the Field
One of the main objectives of the study was to identify the sites which will be
submerged at the filling of the reservoir. This implies identifying, at least
approximately, the FSL of 29.1 m asl. Under the given situation (complex topography
without any marked elevations or clearly defined valley flanks, undulating terrain, dense
and high vegetation), this proved to be a very difficult task. Two main approaches were
used, namely;
� GPS measurements for locating sites and providing estimates of elevation;
however, while location is rather precise, this is not the case for elevation, these
measurements can vary strongly due to changing weather conditions and can
only provide a rough estimate.
� Information from long-term residents of the region on "where the water was
when the reservoir was there"; this is presumably rather accurate as far as
location of houses are concerned (houses which were not affected by the
reservoir or sites which had to be abandoned at the former filling of the reservoir
and were then occupied again after the breaching of the dam). However, it
cannot be expected that in this way a very accurate assessment of fields to be
submerged can be made.
Such an assessment will be very important for the RAP, where questions of
compensation will have to be clarified. To a certain extent, old topographical maps
showing the reservoir might be of use in the further analysis, in combination with the
recent orthophotos of this area (received from Stanley Consultants).
Nevertheless, for the finalisation of the RAP and for its implementation, as well as the
implementation of the ESMP (pre-impoundment clearing of the reservoir area), it is
highly recommended to carry out a topographical survey of the area, whereby the FSL
of the reservoir (preferably the 30 m asl contour line) would be clearly marked in the
field, with markers which cannot easily be removed or relocated. This would then allow
to clearly identify all assets to be submerged, and to identify the area from which trees
(and, to the extent possible, other vegetation) should be removed, without an
encroachment of these activities on surrounding land above the water level of the
reservoir. This work should be carried out as soon as possible.