Background Information Document and Invitation to Comment

Transcription

1 Background Information Document and Invitation to Comment Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the Muchinga Hydropower Project, Zambia Introduc on The Muchinga Power Company Limited (MPC), is proposing to develop 255MW hydropower plant (HPP) 6 km of the confluence of Lunsemfwa and Mkushi Rivers. The Project Site is located in the Central Province of Zambia, within the Mkushi and Kapiri Mposhi Districts and approximately 80km to the south-east of Kabwe town. The Project Site further falls within the three Chiefdoms, namely Mukonchi and Kanyenshya (upstream) and Chembe (downstream). In order to comply with Environmental Management Act (EMA) (Act 12 of 2011) an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) must be completed and submi5ed to the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) for their considera6on. ERM s Role In compliance with the Environmental Management Act (EMA) (Act 12 of 2011), LHPC is required to submit an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report to ZEMA for considera6on. MPC has appointed Environmental Management Resources (ERM) to conduct an ESIA for the project. ERM will be working with Jacob Chishiba who is based in Lusaka and can be contacted for any ques6ons or to register as stakeholder. jchishba@gmail.com Tel: +(260) / +(260) PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT Insert Map Figure 1: Location of the Muchinga HHP Figure 1: Location of the Muchinga HHP This document serves to provide you with a brief introduc6on to the proposed project and the manner in which Interested and Affected Par6es (I&APs) can become involved in the ESIA process. Addi6onal documents will be available at various stages during the environmental assessment process to provide I&APs with informa6on and further opportuni6es to raise issues of concern and sugges6ons for enhanced benefits. Who is MPC? The Muchinga Power Company Limited (MPC) is a joint venture between Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company Limited (LHPC), Agua Imara AS (formerly SN Power Africa) and eleqtra (InfraCo) Ltd. Page 1

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4 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS The ESIA for the Muchinga HPP is being undertaken in terms of the Environmental Management Act (EMA) (Act 12 of 2011). This act is the principle law on integrated environmental management in Zambia. The EMA was enacted in April 2011 to repeal and replace the Environmental Protec6on and Pollu6on Control Act (EPCCA) (CAP 204) and its Amendments. The ESIA is divided into five key phases, namely: Screening, Scoping, EIA Study, EIS Review and Monitoring. Each phase is outlined in Figure 6 below. Figure 6: EIA Process in Zambia Be a Part of the Process You are invited to be part of the ESIA process. As a stakeholder, you are invited to iden6fy issues and concerns about the project pertaining to poten6al posi6ve or nega6ve environmental and social impacts which will be inves6gated during the ESIA process. This can be done by visi6ng the project website (h5p:// telephonically contac6ng MPC for further informa6on and reques6ng to be registered on the project database; and reviewing drab reports when you are invited to do so within the 6meframes provided. Please ensure that you are registered on the project database. Registra6on will ensure that you receive on-going communica6on about the ESIA process, including mee6ng invita6ons, project updates, and the opportunity to review the drab reports. Page 4

5 Registration and Comment Sheet Muchinga HPP Should you have any queries, comments or sugges ons regarding the proposed project, please note them below. Return this comment sheet to Jacob Chishiba: Tel: +(260) / +(260) Postal Address: 21st Floor, Suite 3, Findeco House, Cairo Road, P. O. Box , Lusaka Please formally register me as stakeholder and provide further informa6on and no6fica6ons Yes No I would like to receive my no6fica6ons by: Post Fax Comments: Title and Name: Organisa on: Telephone: Cellphone: Postal Address: Fax: Please fill-in your contact details below for the project database. Thank you for your par cipa on Page 5