Improving Governance in Africa

Addressing the potential negative effects of large hydro Hydro projects that need to observe the strictest environmental and social impact standards require a full Environmental and Social Impact Analysis (ESIA) when any of the following criteria are met: ☐ Dam projects involving the establishment of a reservoir of 1,000 ha or more affecting land used by local populations; Power transmission lines of more than 110 kV, crossing highly populated, forested or cultivated areas; Power generation plants of more than 30 MW. Net proceeds of AfDB Green Bonds might finance large hydro as long as and only if net emission reductions can be demonstrated (i.e. emission reductions from replacing fossil fuel generation minus emissions generated from creating the reservoir e.g. cutting trees) The Green Bonds project portfolio currently contains two hydro projects: ONEE Integrated Wind/Hydro in Morocco and Itezhi-Tezhi in Zambia . • Case study: Itezhi-Tezhi hydro project Planned electricity generation of clean hydro power will save an estimated 360,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year As a category 1 project, a full ESIA was conducted for the Itezhi-Tezhi project which involved public consultations (publicly available online*). A positive environmental externality of USD 39 million minimum is expected to be created by the overall project For the 404 persons affected by the project, a full Resettlement Action Plan was prepared and implemented in accordance with the Bank's policy on involuntary resettlement including supporting the vulnerable to relocate. A budgetary allocation was also provided by the Zambia Energy Utility Company (ZESCO) to ensure fair and timely compensation of project affected persons * http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Environmental-and-Social-Assessments/0305_Final%20Document%20_ITT_ESIA_RAP%20Summary.pdf 62

View entire presentation