Temperature - European Investment Bank

WEST AFRICAN POWER POOL (WAPP) PÖYRY ENERGY LTD.
Mount Coffee HPP ESIA and RAP 2012-09-18
ESIA Report Page 328
A23.4: Mass Meeting in Arthington, Gbandi and List of Participants
The second mass meeting with local community dwellers in the Mount Coffee Hydro
Project area took place on Monday March 5, 2012 at Arthington a township located
upstream from the damaged hydro power plant based at Mount Coffee in the township
of Harrisburg. The meeting was attended by the special assistant to the Mayor of
Arthington City in Gbande Town located on the outskirts of Arthington, where public
meetings of such nature are usually held. 69 Persons participated at the meeting. The
township is home to about 14 ethnic groups in Liberia, namely: Gola, Kpelle, Belle,
Lorma, Kissi, Gio, Mano, Bassa, Krahn, Mandingo, Vai, Grebo, Mende and Kru.
The meeting started with the introduction of the present team, Mitchell Kumbelay
(Forestry Specialist), E. Blamo Robinson (Communication Specialist), Albert
Thompson (Agriculture Specialist), Thomas Langer (ESIA Specialist) and Britta
Lammers (Biodiversity Specialist and Deputy Team Leader). In addition it was
explained to the population that additional experts will come to carry out their
assessment (Socio-economist, Health Expert, Botanist, etc.) in the project area.
A short description of the project, the project area and the current stage of the project
was given by Ms. Britta Lammers.
One of the main concerns was, that the population had heard that another river would be
diverted into the St. Paul river. Therefore the people thought that the reservoir area
would be larger than before and additional villages would have to be relocated. The
consultant explained that the dam height and the full supply level of the reservoir would
not change and as long these characteristics of the HPP are not changed the area the
reservoir will stay the same as before the dam was broken.
The meeting with the locals of this township was crucial because some residents of this
township who are engaged in farming activities along the St. Paul river bank will
definitely be affected when the hydro power plant becomes operational following the
completion of the rehabilitation work. Other locals who are involved in fishing in the St.
Paul River and others depending on non timber forest products in forested areas of the
Arthington township would be concerned about both the positive and negative effects
that the rehabilitation and subsequent operation of the hydro plant would have on their
daily livelihood, hence it became imperative to convene a community meeting in the
township to consult with the locals.
Most of the women said they were involved in farming as their livelihood while some
men indicated that they were actively engaged in farming, hunting and fishing.
Concerns expressed:
� Expansion of the reservoir may overflow their residential areas;
� Rehabilitation of dam will affect their farms located along the banks of the St.
Paul River;
� High yields from fishing will be drastically reduced.
� More than five villages are said to be in the pathway of the reservoir over ten
houses reported to be on the pathway of reservoir will be damaged.
Positive sentiments expressed: