Temperature - European Investment Bank

WEST AFRICAN POWER POOL (WAPP) PÖYRY ENERGY LTD.
Mount Coffee HPP ESIA and RAP 2012-09-18
ESIA Report Page 230
Strategic Priority Guideline Comments
Strategic Priority 5: Recognising Entitlements and
Sharing Benefits
Joint negotiations with adversely affected people result in
mutually agreed and legally enforceable mitigation and
development provisions. These recognise entitlements that
improve livelihoods and quality of life, and affected people
are beneficiaries of the project. Successful mitigation,
resettlement and development are fundamental commitments
and responsibilities of the State and the developer. They
bear the onus to satisfy all affected people that moving from
their current context and resources will improve their
livelihoods. Accountability of responsible parties to agreed
mitigation, resettlement and development provisions is
ensured through legal means, such as contracts, and through
accessible legal support.
Strategic Priority 6: Ensuring Compliance
Ensuring public trust and confidence requires that the
governments, developers, regulators and operators meet all
commitments made for the planning, implementation and
operation of dams. Compliance with applicable regulations,
criteria and guidelines, and project-specific negotiated
agreements is secured at all critical stages in project
planning and implementation. A set of mutually reinforcing
incentives and mechanisms is required for social,
environmental and technical measures. These should involve
an appropriate mix of regulatory and non-regulatory
17. Baseline Social Conditions Were analysed for the ESIA as well as for the RAP in a sufficient way for
that stage of the project.
18. Impoverishment Risk This is a point of main concern of the Socio-economic Analysis. The
Analysis
affected population is very poor. Project impacts will be mainly positive
(improving access; creation of income, although mainly temporary).
Nevertheless, loss of land for cash crops could prove detrimental for
affected households, and this must be compensated if and when it occurs. A
solution needs to be found that the local population will also be able to plant
cash crop on community owned land.
19. Implementation of the
Mitigation, Resettlement and
Development Action Plan
20. Project Benefit-Sharing
Mechanism
On the other hand, it has also to be seen that the project, by producing cheap
and reliable energy, will contribute to the reduction of poverty not only in
the project area, but ultimately (provided access by means of expanding the
grid is granted) in the whole country.
A RAP is being prepared as part of this assignment. It will have to be
implemented and, where required, updated during the process.
The affected population expects improved access, electrification of the
villages, and health and education facilities and jobs. The economic situation
in the project area will certainly improve.
Conclusions: Important aspects for the future planning and implementation process. The
Project is on track.
21. Compliance Plans These rules for plan implementation will have to be established. A
monitoring system will have to be implemented which will ensure
compliance of the project, during construction as well as during operation,
22. Independent Review Panels
for Social and Environmental
Matters
with the conditions defined during the planning phase.
Such a panel is recommended. It is important that it is being maintained
throughout the planning and implementation process (until measures are
implemented in a satisfactory way).
23. Performance Bonds This would be an option, to be decided.
24. Trust Funds as above
25. Integrity Pacts as above
Conclusions: Compliance with the plans, once they will have been established, must be
ensured.