Tina River environmental and social planning for sustainable hydropower
Client: Solomon Islands Government, World Bank & European Investment Bank
Location: Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
Date: January 2010 – July 2012
Supporting environmental and social planning to ensure sustainable hydropower development
Background
To reduce its dependence on costly diesel imports, the Solomon Islands is looking to hydropower for cost-effective and sustainable electricity generation.
Entura has worked with the government of the Solomon Islands since 2007 and was engaged to deliver a prefeasibility and subsequent feasibility study for the country’s first large hydropower generation project. As part of the environmental screening, the World Bank determined the project to be a ‘Category A’ project (i.e. likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts that are sensitive, diverse or unprecedented), triggering several environmental and social safeguard policies.
Solution
As part of the project feasibility phase, Entura undertook the environmental screening for the World Bank, which was expanded to include a scoping study for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) as well as a range of additional environmental and social management planning services.
The environmental screening included preliminary field studies, stakeholder mapping and engagement planning, and a review of environmental and social issues and risks associated with the project to determine the potential impact of the project, relevant environmental category and further studies required.
Entura prepared an ESIA scoping study in accordance with the applicable environmental laws and policies of the Solomon Islands, as well as the relevant guidelines, policies and standards of the European Investment Bank and environmental and social safeguards of the World Bank. Indigenous peoples and involuntary resettlement were particular areas of focus, as well as environmental issues.
Throughout the project, Entura worked closely with government staff and the local community in identifying key environmental and social values and issues, developing the ESIA scoping study and terms of reference, and selecting the preferred consultants.
Outcome
Entura offered the client a depth of expertise in sustainable hydropower development to help ensure not only a successful development application for important power-generation infrastructure but also local capacity building in stakeholder engagement, planning processes and World Bank requirements. The expertise provided by Entura will help ensure a social licence to operate, and minimisation of environmental and social impacts.
