Summary of Environmental and Social Considerations (Preparatory Study)

1. Title of the Study：The Master Plan Study on Power Supply in Western Area in the

Republic of Sierra Leone

2. Type of the Study：Master Plan

3. Environmental Categorization and Its Reason：Category B. Consideration for

the environment and society, which will be affected by this master plan, precisely, power

development, and renewal, reinforcement and extension of distribution lines is required.

There is a forest reserve in the target area. This forest reserve is important to protect

water source to the capital and variety of animals and plants. Careful investigating of

the impact by the expected plan to renew, reinforce and extend distribution lines on the

forest reserve is required.

4. Agency or Institution Responsible：Ministry of Energy and Power (MEP)

National Power Authority (NPA)

5. Outline of the Study：

（１） Background

The Republic of Sierra Leone (hereinafter referred to as “Sierra Leone”) is located in the

western part of the African continent facing the Atlantic and has a population of 5.32

million (general election statistics in 2007) and a total land area of some 70,000 km2

(similar to the size of Hokkaido Island of Japan).

The civil war in Sierra Leone ended in 2002 after approximately 11 years of fighting and

its recent progress to a development period from the post-war reconstruction period is

illustrated by an annual GDP growth rate of 7%. However, such factors causing

socioeconomic instability as crime, a high unemployment rate, absolute poverty and the

uneven distribution of resources have not yet been solved. The economic growth of the

country has been hampered by the destruction of basic infrastructure by the civil war

and the malfunctioning of the existing infrastructure due to the lack of proper

maintenance.

The power sector in particular is suffering from the insufficient policy planning and

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implementation capacity of the competent ministry and the insufficient business

management and system maintenance capacity of electric power companies. As a result,

the daily supply of electricity is not guaranteed let alone the long-term development of

the power supply. The operating balance of the National Power Authority (NPA), which

is responsible for power supply in the Freetown Capital Region, is experiencing a

chronic deficit and the NPA is finding it difficult to procure sufficient fuel for power

generation. As far as the power supply facilities are concerned, the Kingtom Power

Station, the only power station owned by the NPA, has seven diesel power generating

units. In reality, however, only two of these units are operable and power supply to the

capital largely depends on private power companies. The available distribution capacity

falls short of the power demand because of the breakdown and deterioration of some of

the facilities.

Under these circumstances, the Government of Sierra Leone, the World Bank and

donors have identified the improvement of the power sector to be the top priority and

various donors have been providing assistance for this sector. Various measures are

essential to improve the present situation in order to achieve a sustainable power

supply. These include the rehabilitation and extension of the power supply system and

improvement of the business management and human resources development of the

NPA. Against this background, the Government of Sierra Leone has made a request to

the Government of Japan to implement a development study to formulate a sustainable

power supply plan for the capital region (Western Area).

（２） Scope of the Study

The target period of this master plan is for the next 15 years (2010-2025). The objective

of the master plan is to supply stable power in Western Area. As power supply in the

capital region is in a crisis situation, the first five years of the target period of the

master plan are considered to constitute the “urgent rehabilitation period”. During this

period, emphasis will be placed on the renewal of the power supply equipment and

facilities to meet the current power demand.

The contents of the Master Plan are as follows.

① Power Demand Forecast

② Power Development Plan

③ Renewal, Reinforcement and Extension Plan of Distribution Line

④ Human Resource Development Plan

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⑤ Analysis of Electricity Tariff and Method to Establish the Optimal

Electricity Tariff

⑥ Improvement Plan for Distribution Line Monitoring and Operating Method

⑦ Implementation Manuals for Renewal, Reinforcement and Extension Plan

of Distribution Line

⑧ Implementation Plan of the Master Plan for Renewal, Reinforcement and

Extension of Distribution Line

⑨ Consideration of the Conditions for the Introduction of Energetic Private

Enterprises

Since the NPA as a counterpart does not have enough capacity to develop a plan,

necessary skills and methods for data collection, data analysis and distribution

planning will be transferred as well.

6. Description of the Study Site: The Capital Region in Sierra Leone (Western Area).

（１） Natural Environment

Western Area is located in the Western Area Peninsular, and consists of Western Urban

Western Rural as in Figure 1. The climate of the area is tropical. The average

temperature is 21-31ºC. The dry season is from December to April and the rainy season

is from May to November. Western Area is richly endowed with nature, such as the

ocean and forest. There is a protected forest called the Western Area Peninsular Forest

(WAPF) in the peninsular.

The number of the population in Western Area has been increasing, as refugees have

retuned, and people from rural areas have been migrating in Western Area. Thus,

Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve with the total area size 18,000ha declared by

law has been deforested by housing development. The Figure 2 shows the extinct forest

areas in orange and remaining forest area in yellow. The forest is reserved to save water

sources supplied to Freetown and whole Western Area, and also to protect a large

variety of animals and plants. However, villagers living in the vicinity of the forest

reserve depend on natural resources in the forest. They hunt animals, log, collect fuel

wood and mine or they clear the forest for farming lands. This has also caused

deforestation and threatened the lives of animals and plants in the forest. Therefore,

the government is now trying to re-demarcate the forest reserve.

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Figure-1 Map of the Study Area (Western Area)

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Extinct

Forest

Remaining

Forest

Figure-2 Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve

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As for mammal species, in the 2008 IUCN (International Union for Conservation of

Nature and Natural Resources) Red List, Cardioglossa aureole (EN), Chephalophus

jentinki (Jentingk’s Duiker, EN), Cercopithecus diana (Diane/roloway Monkey,VU), Pan

Troglodytes (Common Chimpanzee, EN), Panthera pardus (Leopard, NT), and

Procolobus badius (West African Red Colobus, EN) are believed to live in the forest. As

for birds, Bleda eximius (Green-tailed Bristlebill, VU) and Ceratogymna elata

(Yellow-casqued Hornbill, NT) are believed to have their habitat in WAPF.1 But the lack

of comprehensive surveys after 90’s makes it difficult to know the current conditions of

them.

Next to the forest reserve is Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. This is a protection

center of chimpanzee.

A part of Sierra Leone River Estuary (the total area size is 300,000ha), which is a

registered site of the Ramsar Convention, is located in the north-west in the peninsular.

（２） Social Environment

Sierra Leone suffered from insufficient provision of social and public services and

deterioration of economy due to power game and corruption after the independence in

1961. The civil war started in 1991 made the situation worse.

Since the end of war in 2002, peace has been kept. The country is now in the stage of

development after the reconstruction stage. However, basic infrastructure such as water,

electricity, road are not yet developed enough even in the capital, Freetown, which is a

negative factor for economic development. The lack of social services such as education

or health makes the lives of people more difficult. The employment rate and poverty

rate is high. The country is ranked at 177, the bottom in the Human Development Index

(2007/2008) published by UNDP

Real GDP, which was falling during the civil war, marked a positive growth rate after

the end of war, and returned to the pre-war level in 2007. The average growth rate

between 2004 and 2006 was 7.4% and in 2007 the rate was 6.4%. The agriculture

sector generates about 50% of GDP, the service sector 40% and the industry sector

(mining, manufacturing, construction etc) 10%.

1 Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU), Near Threaded (NT)

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The size of population is getting bigger and bigger in Western Area. The population of

Western Area is 950,000 according to the statistics in 2004 (urban 785,000 and rural

165,000).This expansion of the population has caused heavy congestion in Freetown.

Especially, the poor have encroached along bay or river or hilltop areas informally.

These kinds of slums with no proper infrastructure and sanitation are scattered in the

town. In Western Rural, towns and villages are along the roads. New housing

development can be seen in Western Rural.

Sierra Leone has two poverty lines. One is food/extreme poverty, which is translated to

the expenditure of 1,000 Leone per day. The other one is full poverty line, which is the

expenditure of 2,100 Leone per day. Western area is rich compared to the other areas in

Sierra Leone. But, poverty still prevails. According to the Annual Statistics Digest

2005/2006, the ratios of people who live under the two poverty lines are 3.2% and 17.1%

respectively in Western Urban, and 26.3% and 70.1% respectively in Western Rural.

(National average is 14.7% and 54.3% in urban, and 32.8% and 78.9% in rural.)

7. Legal Framework for Environmental and Social Considerations in Sierra Leone：

（１）Laws, Regulations, and Standards Related to Environmental and Social Issues 1） Environmental Protection Agency Act, 2008

Under the new president elected in 2007, the bill of Environment Protection Agency Act

was presented to the parliament in July 2008. The objective of the bill was to establish

the Environment Protection Agency, transforming from the Ministry of Environment.

Then, the Environment Protection Agency was formally established in December 2008.

The procedure of EIA is stipulated in the act. Any laws and regulations addressing

Strategic Environmental Assessment do not exist in Sierra Leone.

Table-1 the Environment Protection Agency Act Establishment of the Environment Protection Agency (Section 2-11)

Establishment of the agency. Establishment of the Board and its members and functions.

Functions and Management of the Agency (Section 12-22)

Functions of the Agency, structure and members of the agency, funds and account

Environmental Impact Assessments ( Section 23-39)

Requirement and Procedures of EIA. The procedures are as follows.

① Any person who will undertake a project under the First Schedule needs to apply for a licensee to the Agency with a description of the project.

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② The Agency decides whether an environmental impact assessment is required in fourteen days after the agency receives an application. The Second Schedule is considered when a decision of EIA requirement is taken.

③ If EIA is not required, the Executive Director informs the applicant in a written form.

④ When an applicant is required to submit EIA, the applicant needs to prepare and submit EIA including the information set out in the Third Schedule to the Agency.

⑤ The Agency circulates a received EIA to professional bodies or associations, Government Ministries and NGOs for their comments. In addition, the Agency makes the EIA open to the public for their comments and inspection, and give notice to the Gazette or newspaper.

⑥ After receiving the comments, the EIA is submitted to the Board. Then the Board decides a) to issues a license b) to require additional information to the applicant in 21 days, or c) to reject the EIA which has adverse impacts on the environment, people and society.

⑦ When the EIA has been approved, the Board directs the Executive Director to issue a license to the applicant.

⑧ The Agency will monitor all projects which licenses have been issued to assess the effects on the environment

Ozone Depleting Substances, Section 40-52

Control of the substances

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Agency Stakeholders

（professional, Government

Ministries, NGO, the Public）

Project Implementer

Figure-3 EIA Process

First Schedule: Project Requiring Environmental Impact Assessment Licenses (a) substantial changes in renewable resource use (e.g. conversion of land to

agricultural production, forestry or to pasture land, rural development, timber production)

(b) substantial changes in farming and fisheries practices(e.g. introduction of new crops, large scale mechanization or use of chemicals in agriculture)

Environment Protection

Agency

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry

and Food Security, Forest Division

Application for EIA license with project

description

Submission of an application

(FIRST SCHEDULE)

EIA submission (THIRD SCHEDULE)

EIA preparation (SECOND SCHEDULE)

Inform in a written form EIA is not required

Submitted EIA report Circulation to the stakeholders

Comments received →Board Decision whether

it needs more info

Prepare Additional info

License is issued

Non-Forestry

Reject EIA → No license is issued

Decision of EIA requirement

（in 14 days）

Forestry

EIA required

No EIA

If Yes

Board Decision for a

license

Submission

Yes

No

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(c) exploitation of hydraulic resources(e.g. dams, drainage and irrigation project, water basin development, water supply)

(d) infrastructure(e.g. roads, bridges, airports, harbors, transmission lines, pipelines, railways)

(e) industrial activities(e.g. metallurgical plants, wood processing plants, chemical plants, power plants, refinery and petro-chemical plants, agro-industries)

(f) extractive industries(e.g. mining quarrying extraction of sand, gravel, salt, peat, oil and gas)

(g) waste management and disposal (e.g. sewerage systems and treatment plants, landfills, treatment plaints for household and hazardous waste)

(h) housing construction and development schemes (i) establishment of places of entertainment, motor repair garages and welding

shops (j) importation of second hand vehicles

Second Schedule: Matters considered in determining whether EIA is required or not (a) the environment impact on the community (b) the location of the project (c) whether the project transforms the locality (d) whether the project has or is likely to have substantial impact on the ecosystem

of the locality (e) whether the project results in the diminution of the aesthetic, recreational,

scientific, historical, cultural or other environmental quality of the locality (f) whether the project will endanger any species of flora or fauna or the habitat of

the flora and fauna (g) the scale of the project (h) the extent of the degradation of the quality of the environment (i) whether the project will results in an increase in demand for natural resources

in the locality (j) the cumulative impact of the project together with other activities or projects on

the environment

What the Environment Projection Agency Act Requires for This Master Plan

According to the Environment Project Agency Act, a power plant project or transmission

lines project is required to obtain EIA license. Whether the project needs EIA or not

depends on a decision of the Environment Protection Agency. Although an application

for EIA license is not required for this Master Plan, proposed projects in the Master

Plan such as power plant, transmission and distribution lines will need obtain EIA

license when it is implemented.

２）Forest Act 1988 and Forest Regulation 1988

A Chief Conservator is assigned for in the ministry to develop management plan for

respective forest and implement it. There are several protection categories such as

national forest, wild animal protection area.

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３）Wildlife Conservation Act, 1972 (ammended1990)

There are five categorization for protection areas, namely, National Park, Strict Nature

Reserve, Game Reserve. Game Sanctuary and Forest Reserve. This act stipulates

protection of forest, fish, animals and plants.

４) Environmental Standards and Regulations

There are no environmental standards or regulations which indicate clear figures to be

observed in Sierra Leone. The country uses guidelines or standards of World Health

Organization, World Bank, or developed countries.

5）Laws Regarding Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement

The fundamental laws are “Public Lands Ordinance” and “Compulsory Acquisition of

Property Act (Constitutional Safeguards)”. It is possible to acquire land compulsorily for

public interest, but the government should compensate for the land acquired at the

market value and other assets. Relocation fee is not paid. People without formal land

title cannot receive any compensation.

(2) Related Agencies and Institutions

The Environment Protection Agency coordinates other ministries or bodies concerned.

The Agency has been established recently, so the number of staff is just eight. The

Agency has an expansion plan.

The members of the Board of Director of the Agency and their responsibilities are as

follows.

Table-2 The Organization related for Environmental and Social Considerations

Ministry of Local Government Supervision of decentralization

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food

Security

The Forestry Division preserves and

manages forests.

Ministry of Mineral Resources Management of mineral resources

Ministry of Marine Resources Management of marine resources

Ministry of Tourism Management of cultural and historical

heritage.

Ministry of Trade and Industry Management of trade and industry

Ministry of Transport Use of roads

Ministry of Health Consideration of impact on health

Petroleum Unit

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Other than the Board of Director, there are other concerned ministries. These are

Ministry of Finance & Economic Development in charge of national finance and

development, Freetown City Council which will be in charge of environmental

monitoring in its jurisdiction area as a result of the on-going decentralization process,

Ministry of Lands and Country Planning in charge of land acquisition and

compensation, and Ministry of Social Welfare and Gender/Children Affairs which has

information on the poor and valuable groups.

8. Consideration of Alternatives

Alternatives for the type of power development, scale of development, and route of

distribution lines as well as a without project option will be compared.

9. Plan of Local Stakeholder Consultation

After the outline of the power development plan and renewal, reinforcement and

extension of distribution lines plan is developed, a stakeholder consultation will be held

where necessary (for instance, in such case land acquisition and involuntary

resettlement is required). The plan proposed in the Master Plan and impact on the

environment and society will be explained, and opinions from stakeholders will be listed

in.

Participants：Concerned Ministries, local residents who might be affected, research

institutes, NGO, etc

Type：Workshop

Number of Consultation：One

Contents of Consultation：①To explain the Master Plan ②To explain the brief

summary of environmental and social considerations ③ To ask opinions from

stakeholders

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10. Provisional Scoping

Table-3 Provisional Scoping

Assessment Results

General Constructio

n Stage

Operatin

g Stage

Remarks

Involuntary Resettlement B B D

Construction of power plants, substation and transmission and distribution lines may require land acquisition. The congestion and existence of big slums in Freetown raise a concern of involuntary resettlement. It should be minimized.

Local Economy, Employment and Livelihood

B B D

There are many small shops along the streets in Freetown. The route of distribution lines may need to relocate them and affect their livelihood. (On the other hand, in general, power supply encourages economic activities.)

Use of Land and Other Local Resources

B B D

It may need to acquire land for new power plants, sub stations and transmission and distribution lines. Distribution lines will be extended to un-electrified areas and the distribution lines may run through the forest reserve.

Social Institutions such as Social Infrastructure and Local Decision-Making Institutions

D D D

Existing Social Infrastructure/Services

D D D

The Poor, Indigenous of Ethnic People

D D D

Misdistribution of Benefit and Damage

D D D

Cultural Heritage D D D

Conflict of Local Interests B D B

There is a possibility of conflict of local interests between electrified and un-electrified areas.

Water Rights and Rights of Common

B B B Construction of new hydro power plants may give some impact.

Public Health D D D

Soc

ial E

nvi

ron

men

t

Infectious Diseases D D D

Topographical and

Geographical Features D D D

Soil Erosion B B D

Construction of power plants, substations and transmission and distribution lines may cause soil erosion by site preparation and cutting tree.

Groundwater D D D

Nat

ura

l En

viro

nm

ent

Hydrogeological Conditions D D D

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Coastal Zone B B D

Wetland area registered in the Ramsar Convention is located in north-east of the peninsular. Housing development is on going around this area. The extension of distribution lines in this area may give some impact.

Flora, Fauna and

Bio-Diversity B B B

The transmission and distribution lines may run near or in the Forest Reserve., which may give some impact to flora, fauna and biodiversity in there. It should minimize the impact.

Meteorology D D D

Landscape D D D

Global Warming B D B

Although the current planed power source is hydro power, there is a possibility to increases CO² emission from diesel engine generators to be added as buck up power.

Air Pollution B D B

Some sources of power development (gas turbine, diesel ) discharges NOx、SOx. It should minimize the emission of NOx、SOx.

Water Pollution B D B

If the Kingtom Power Station is rehabilitated, it should meet the international standards for treatment of waster water and oil.

Soil Contamination B D B

If the Kingtom Power Station is rehabilitated, there may be a possibility of oil leak on the ground. Necessary measures should be taken.

Waste B B B

Increase of the capacity of power supply by adding diesel-engine generators increases the amount of waste oil. It should be treated properly. Old transformers may contain PCB. How to dispose them should be addressed.

Noise and Vibration B B B

Some types of power plant (gas turbine, diesel) discharge noise and cause vibration. Measures should be taken to minimize it. Construction noise and vibration are usually observed.

Ground Subsidence D D D

Bad Odour D D D

Benthic Sediment D D D

Accidents B D B

There are many structures under the unused existing power distribution lines. There are possibilities of accidents to the public if electricity is turned on. Necessary measures should be taken.

Pol

luti

on

Electromagnetic field D D D

Rating A：serious impact is expected B：some impact is expected

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C：extent of impact unknown. Examination is needed. Impact may become clear as the study progresses D：minimum or hardly any impact is expected

11．Terms of Reference for Environmental and Social Considerations

（1）Social Environment

Involuntary Resettlement：Compensation criterion and procedures, and past

practices by donors will be studied.

Local Economy, Employment and Livelihood：Literature review and interview

will be carried out to know economic activities in the target area.

Use of Land and Other Local Resources：Land ownerships system and land use

will be confirmed.

（2）Natural Environment

Coastal Zone：Besides mangrove、other protected animal or plant species as well as

protected area will be studies. (Literature review, interview and site survey)

Flora, Fauna and Bio-Diversity：The current situation of the forest reserve and

inhabitation of rare animals and plants will be studies. (Literature review,

interview and site survey)

Global Warming：The volume of CO2 discharged by new thermal plants will be

predicted and assessed.

（3）Pollution

Air Pollution：The impact of exhausted gas from new thermal plants will be

predicted and assessed.

Water Pollution：The current condition of waste water from the Kingtom Power

Station will be observed.

Soil Contamination：The current condition of the Kingtom Power Station will be

observed.

Waste：The treatment procedure of waste oil discharged from the diesel engine

generators in the Kingtom Power Station and the use of transformers which may

contain PCB will be studied.

Noise and Vibration： The level of noise and vibration will be predicted and

assessed.

Accidents：Structures under the distribution lines will be studies by interview and

site survey.

Avoidance or mitigation measures will be examined for the matters rated as B (some

impact is expected).

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（4）Needs for This Master Plan

The needs of this Master Plan will be demonstrated by interview with ministries, other

government-affiliated agency, and donors. In addition, a socio-economic survey, which

asks power demand and the amount they are willing to pay, targeting 400 households as

samples in electrified areas and un-electrified areas in Western Area will clarify the needs

from the customers too.

（5）Schedule

During the first field survey (from 25th Nov to 21st Dec 2008 and from 13th Jan to 11th Feb),

laws regarding environment protection and regulations, and laws for social considerations

(land use, land acquisition, protection of cultural heritage etc) will be confirmed. Also,

interview with concerned organization and site survey will be conducted. During the

second field survey (from 12th May to 18th Jun), options of power development,

development scale, and renewal, reinforcement and extension of distribution lines will be

compared. Strategic Environmental Assessment will be undertaken. Mitigation measures

will be examined.

12．Other Relevant Information

Environment Protection Agency Act

The National Power Authority Act

The Forest Act

Wildlife Conservation Act

Public Lands Ordinance

Compulsory Acquisition of Property Act (Constitutional Safeguards)