Environmental and Social

As a run-of-river hydroelectric scheme, with no high dam or reservoir, the  Ngonye Project has a relatively low environmental and sociial impact for an infrastructure development of its scale. However, a comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) has been completed to ensure the highest standards of environmental and social compliance. The ESIA process has identified the environmental and social impacts that the construction and operation of the project will produce and has set out plans and processes to reduce and mitigate these impacts as far as possible.

The ESIA was conducted according to Zambian national environmental law and regulation as required by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency and also the Performance Standards of the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The ESIA process included comprehensive consultation and engagement with the local host community and other stakeholders.

Positive impacts and Community Support

The communities of the Western Province will hold 6% of the equity of the project in recognition of the value of the land and water resources they are providing.The project will also pay a fixed community development payment of 500,000 US dollars each year once the power station is operational. The funds will be administered by two trusts, one for projects across the Province and one for the area that hosts the project. These community led projects will include education, water, sanitation and healthcare. The local communities will also benefit from the creation of employment as during the construction phase, the project will have a peak direct workforce of 3,000 people, comprised of a mix of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour.

The key components of the ESIA that have been completed include:

- Environmental & Social Impact Statement:
  • Biodiversity including terrestrial and aquatic ecology
  • Social Impact
  • Heritage and Tourism Impact
  • Health Impact
  • Landscape & Visual Impact
  • Environmental Flow Requirements
  • Climate Change Impact Assessment & GHGs
  • Stakeholder Engagement Plan
- Resettlement Policy Framework

- Environmental and Social Management and Monitoring Plan
ESIA Process:  

Community Meeting Posters