Presentation of theESIA Inception Report

(Poyry, May 2011)

Rogun Riparian Information Sharing and Discussions

World Bank Central Asia Regional OfficeAlmaty, Kazakhstan

May 2011

Assessment Studies for the Proposed Rogun Hydropower and Assessment Studies for the Proposed Rogun Hydropower and Regional Reservoir Project (Rogun HPP)Regional Reservoir Project (Rogun HPP)

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• familiarize with project area and project layout• refine TOR: (i) gaps, (ii) deficient or contradictory issues,

or (iii) issues to be updated• receive relevant existing information and documents

from Client• collect and review existing documentation relevant to

environmental / social impacts of proposed Rogun HPP• define and subdivide project area, outline study

approach• state methodological approach, refine program re. next

steps and timeline

Key objectives of Inception Report

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• February 2011: contract negotiations• March 25, 2011: signing of contract between Client

(Barki Tojik) and Consultant (Pöyry Energy Ltd)• → equals starting date of assignment• April 4, 2011: kickoff meeting held in the Ministry of

Energy

NB: The draft inception report is based on just over one month of Consultant’s work on the project and is intended as basis for discussion!

Status of Study

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1. Dam & powerhouse site and close surroundings (incl. construction sites, construction camps, quarries, etc.): area affected significantly by Project, therefore high intensity of proposed field investigations

2. Reservoir area / inundation area (ca. 170 km2): to be considered in detail (especially resettlement of 63 villages)

3. Immediate reservoir catchment: can be influenced by project (change in groundwater regime, triggering of landsides, increasing pressure on habitats)

Study Area Subdivision and Key Impacts:Upstream

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1 dam area

2 reservoir area

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• Downstream area during construction phase: risk of water pollution and potential impacts on water users

• Downstream area during operation phase: river discharge pattern influenced by turbine operation; relatively minor in case of run-of-river scheme (Stage 1), potentially more important in case of storage schemes (Stage 2)

• May cause seasonal changes and short term fluctuations in river discharge pattern

Study Area Subdivision and Key Impacts:Downstream (1)

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Rogun

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• Subsections of downstream riverine environment:o Between Rogun HPP and Nurek reservoir, river

discharge influenced by operation of Roguno Below Nurek HPP until confluence with Panj River

(forming the Amu Darya), cumulative impacts of the Vakhsh hydropower cascade, effects on floodplain habitats

o Downstream Amu Darya from Vakhsh/Pyanj confluence: potential effects on downstream riparian countries

Study Area Subdivision and Key Impacts:Downstream (2)

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Rogun

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• Catchment area: not affected by Project as such, but situation can greatly influence the reservoir: e.g. eutrophication /pollution by input of nutrients, siltation (from erosion in catchment), and climate change impacts

• River basin: SEA for river basin to be integrated into ESIA.

• Access and bypass roads: new access roads, upgrading existing road public roads, building new main road along Vakhsh valley

• Other areas, e.g., transmission line corridors, resettlement areas

Study Area Subdivision and Key Impacts:Various Aspects

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1. Original Project (1978) 2. Hydroprojekt Study (2009)

•Information reviewed by the Consultant during the initial phase of the assignment•ESIA thematic and geographic scope based on the dimensions and specifications of the 1978 project with updates from the 2009 study. •During further project implementation the ESIA scope will align with the TEAS’s project definition

Key Available Information

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Preliminary Screening

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Key identified issues are:•Geology: fault systems, sediment flow, landslide risk, salt layer •Hydrology: cascade assessment, river discharge (quantity, annual distribution), climate change influence •Terrestrial fauna and flora, aquatic fauna: reservoir anthropogenic ally strongly impacted, riverine versus reservoir fish fauna•Protected areas: Tigrovaya Balka NP, downstream and dependent on Vakhsh’s seasonal dynamics

Preliminary Screening: Physical and Biological Environment

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Key identified issues are:•Resettlement: 63 villages affected, resettlement has been ongoing since 1980s, processes will be upgraded to good international practice (and WB policies)•Archaeology and physical cultural heritage: artifacts and structures dating as far back as stone-age, valley once part of silk road •Situation on construction site: review of environment, health and safety management, study will focus on upgrading and adjustment to international good practice

Preliminary Screening: Social, Cultural and Occupational Health Issues

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1. May 2011: Incorporate comments from POE, WB and riparian discussions on general approach and methodology into inception report

2. May 2011: Submit draft environmental and social screening report taking inception report into account

3. June 2011: Finalize inception report, especially sections on methodology and approach (section 6, “development of study”)

4. Proceed with study according to the principles laid out in updated inception report.

5. Coordinate with TEAS Consultant (JV lead by Coyne et Bellier) for professional and data exchange.

Next Steps

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1. Include section on "methodological adjustments“ • adjustments to the technical / methodological

approach in Consultant's proposal • any additional / new aspects referring how ESIA will

be executed.

2. Retain the current section on hydrology but add new section on “transboundary impacts”. these activities should be in accordance with the

issues presented in Box 7 of ESIA-TOR

Issues to Consider: (based on feedback from WB team)

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3. Link technical / methodological approach with documented international good practice to establish measurable quality benchmarks.

Issues to Consider: (based on feedback from WB team)

Examples of standards and guidelines for environmental good practice in hydropower development:

•UN: “Sustainable hydropower guidelines", •World Bank: “Good dams and bad dams" , “Directions of hydropower",•International Hydropower Association: “Hydropower sustainability assessment protocol", •International Energy Agency: report on “Hydropower and the Environment: Present Context and Guidelines for Future Action” from the Implementing agreement for hydropower technologies and programmes, Annex III, Subtask 5, Volume II, Main Report (May 2000)", 17

For more information please see the Executive Summary of ESIA draft

Inception Report published on the website

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