Ghana - Thermal Power Project : environmental assessment (Vol. 7 of 7) : Environmental Impact Statement of the distribution system upgrade project (DSUP)

E51 Volume 7 GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA MINISTRY OF ENERGY/ELECTRICITY COMPANY OF GHANA LTD. GHANA THERMAL PROJECT CREDIT (IDA 2682) ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM UPGRADE PROJECT (DSUP) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Refost Consulting DECEMBER 2003 Tema  I  LIST OF ACRONYMS AMA - ACCRA METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLY BSP - BULK SUPPLY POINT DSUP - DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM UPGRADE PROJECT EC - ENERGY COMMISSION ECG - ELECTRICITY COMPANY OF GHANA EIA - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT EMF - ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD EMP - ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN EPA - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ESIA - ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT GHC - GHANA CEDIS GoG - GOVERNMENT OF GHANA GT - GHANA TELECOM kV - KILO VOLT (1,000 VOLTS) KMA - KUMASI METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLY LI - LEGISLATIVE INSTRUMENT LV,' - LOW VOLTAGE MoE - MINISTRY OF ENERGY MVA - MEGAVOLT AMPERES MW - MEGAWATT NED - NORTHERN ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT NEP - NATIONAL ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT a  i I I I I  Executive Summary The Ministry of Energy (MoE) is seeking to improve the electric power distribution system of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to levels consistent with best industry practice in order to support the Government of Ghana's economic development goals. In line with this objective, MoE proposes to apply some of the funds obtained from the World Bank under the Ghana Thermal Credit facility (IDA 2682) to finance some projects of ECG under the Distribution System Upgrade Project (DSUP). In compliance with the requirements of the World Bank, the borrower (MoE/ECG) is required to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposed developments under the DSUP to address potential adverse impacts, if any, that could arise during the implementation. The World Bank disclosure policy further requires that the environmental (biophysical) and social assessments should be made and disclosed in separate documents. This report therefore covers the environmental impacts assessment of the DSUP. The DSUP components cover both improvements to physical systems (sub-stations, transmission circuits, communications systems etc) as well improvements to financial operations and other forms of institutional support. The EIA commenced with an Inception (Scoping) phase during which the scope of the assessment was determined through consultations, desk studies and field evaluations. Following the findings of the Inception report, it was decided to focus the EIA on the following components of the DSUP: * Construction of Primary sub-stations * Laying of Underground cables * Construction of Overhead lines * Upgrading of LV systems  The various institutional, regulatory and policy issues related to the project implementation have been duly considered in this phase of the EIA. Among those considered are: * Environmental Assessment Regulations, 1999 (LI 1652), * Energy Commission Act, 1997 (Act 541) and PUBLIC NOTICES * National Museum Decree, 1969, (NLCD 387) Lands (Statutory Wayleaves) Regulations, 1964 (L.I. 334) Lands (Statutory Wayleaves) (Amendment) Regulations, 1964 (L.I. 346) Lands (Statutory Wayleaves) Act, 1963 (Act 186) Factories, Offices and Shops Act, 1970, Act 328 * ECG Safety Policy 1995 * ECG Environmental Management Plan 1999 The Road Reservation Management - Manual for Coordination World Bank Safeguard Policy on Involuntary Resettlement (OD 4.30) (Note that the policy revision is OP 4.12, but this project is governed by the earlier version of the policy) Relevant sections of these provisions and guidelines have been used in the appropriate sections of the report. The World Bank Safeguard Policy on Involuntary Resettlement provides the basis for the socio-economic baseline and impact assessment on income loss due to disruptions to persons/economic activities that would result during the project implementation. The Road Reservation Management Coordination Manual prescribes procedures for dealing with disruptions to utilities and traffic management during such works. The project components are described in sufficient detail as is consistent with EIA practice in order to point out the issues of environmental concem. The section on the description of the existing environment presents general information on the three (3) urban centres - Accra, Tema and Kumasi where the major DSUP components under consideration in the EIA will be implemented.  Also provided is information on those components of the environment that would be impacted by the project implementation activities. These would serve as a basis of predicting and evaluating any anticipated impacts (magnitude, extent and significance). The section on Impacts and Mitigation discusses impacts on the physical environment such as noise, dust, waste generation and issues of public/occupational safety and prescribes appropriate mitigation measures in each case. A summary of the findings is presented below in a tabular format. Table ES 1- Pre-Construction Phase Impact Source Activity Mitigation Responsible Nett Effects Party Loss of Vegetabon Site/ Line route Cleanng to be done in the dry PIU/Contractor Minimal deanng season, and limited to the very exposure of essential sections. the soil to the weather. Table ES 2 - Construction Phase Impact Source Mitigation Responsible Nett Effects Activity Party Dust generabon Site clearing, Exposed surfaces and sand heaps PEO/Contractor Reduced Air excavation will be sprayed with water pollution Noise generation Excavabon Machines and equipment will be PEO/Contractor Reduced machinery, well maintained and operated to noise Human activities reduce noise. Activibes will be generabon restricted to daytime. Waste generation Waste from Cut brush, tree stumps and cable PEO/Contractor Avoid vegetation drums shall be disposed of as environmental cleanng and fuelwood. degradabon packaging matenals (solid wastes) Public health Excavations, pools Adequate waming signs, directing PEO/Contractor Avoid of water of all collected water into public accidental drains falls into open trenches etc, _ . . .~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I  and breeding of mosquitoes Occupabonal and Constructional Provision and use of Personnel PEO/Contractor Minimise risk Public Health & Safety activibes protection Equipment of accidents concems Cover up open trenches each day to Mark and seal off any open construction trenches workers and Flll up any potential ponds the general public Oil spills and Machinery Proper maintenance of all PEO/Contractor Avoid Leakages operations machinery and equipment, environmental Provision of designated receptade degradabon to collect waste oils for proper disposal Table ES 3 - Operation and Maintenance Phase Impact Sourme Activity Mitigation Responsible Nett Effects Party Waste generation Disused Old equipment will be put in PIU Avoid transformers, storage, reusable ones will be environmental switchgear and salvaged degradation conductors During this phase of the studies, detailed baseline surveys were carried out along the proposed routes. The surveys involved identifying project-affected persons using the criteria prescribed in the World Bank Policy OD 4.30. The affected persons include: i.) Those whose structures are of a temporary nature - movable kiosks, tables etc. ii.) Those whose structures are of a permanent nature - set in concrete iii.) Those who sell on the pavements and sidewalks (hawkers/seasonal sellers) iv  The details of socio-economic impacts and mitigation including information on affected persons are addressed in the social impact assessment report which is titled as Compensation and Resettlement Plan. The summary of the findings on the affected persons and structures is presented below. Table ES 2 - Summary of Affected Structures and Persons No. 1 Route Permanent Structures / Affected Persons Movable Structures / Affected Persons 1 Accra Route 1 15 structures 44 Persons 27 structures 46 Persons 2 Accra Route 2 9 structures 19 Persons 36 structures * 36 Persons 3 Accra Route 3 Nil Nil 200 Persons (seasonal sellers) 4 1 Kumasi 4 structures 6 Persons 74 structures *74 Persons I~~~~~~ I TOTALS 28 structures 69 Persons 137 structures 356 Persons *Field Estimated numbers ECG Environmental Management Plan (1999) and ECG Safety Policy (1995) provide guidelines and systems for managing the environmental and health and safety aspects of the project implementation. Appropriate monitoring criteria shall be established to verify the predicted impacts of the project on the environment and adjust the mitigation measures where necessary. The Project Unit of ECG shall ensure that monitoring programmes are instituted and carried out to cover the under listed areas. Relevant records shall be kept to ensure compliance with sound environmental practices recommended in this report. ECG's Environmental Officer shall oversee and report all monitoring activities and reports to the Director of Engineering through the Director of Projects. The monitoring criteria are outlined in detail in the report under the following headings: * Construction Phase * Waste management V  * Operations and Maintenance Phase * Socio-economic/cultural issues A section outlining a provisional Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to ensure the application of sound environmental practices during the various stages of the project is also incorporated in the report. The provisional EMP discusses and allocates appropriate resources for items discussed under mitigation and monitoring. Various clauses to be incorporated into the contracts to cover environmental and safety aspects of the contractors obligations are also provided. ECG shall appoint a Project Environmental Coordinator who will also serve on the Project Implementation Unit with support from the Projects Department, to oversee site construction activities and monitor specific environmental criteria. A Social Impact Coordinator shall also be appointed to see to the social issues. These persons shall carry on their assignments into the operational phase of the project. Details of consultations held with the various identified stakeholders are presented in a further section on consultations. The report concludes with a recommendation for the implementation of the project subject to monitoring of the various commitments made for mitigating the environmental impacts. VI  Table of Contents Page LIST OF ACRONYMS a EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Objectives of EIA 2 1.2 Approach and Methodology 2 1.3 Institutional, Regulatory and Policy Considerations 3 2.0 Project Description 6 2.1 Construction of Primary sub-stations 6 2.2 Laying of Underground Cables 7 2.3 Construction of Overhead Lines 8 2.4 Upgrading of Low Voltage (LV) Systems 9 3.0 Description of Existing Environment 10 3.1 Urban Profiles 10 3.2 Natural Environment 12 4.0 Potential Impacts and Mitigation 13 5.0 Monitoring 16 i 1 Constructional Phase 16 5.2 Waste Management 17 5.3 Operations and Maintenance Phase 18   GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA MINISTRY OF ENERGY/ELECTRICITY COMPANY OF GHANA LTD. GHANA THERMAL PROJECT CREDIT (IDA 2682) ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM UPGRADE PROJECT (DSUP) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Refast Consulting December 2003 Tema   1.0 Introduction The Electricity Company of Ghana Ltd, (ECG) is a public utility service provider registered as a private limited liability enterprise under the Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179). Currently, the Government of Ghana is the sole shareholder of ECG. The company is responsible for the distribution of electric power over the southem sector of Ghana which comprises six (6) out of the ten (10) administrative regions namely Ashanti, Eastern, Volta, Western, Central and Greater-Accra. The regions in the northern sector of Ghana are served by the Northem Electricity Department (NED) of the Volta River Authority (VRA). ECG has further subdivided the six (6) administrative regions into nine (9) operational regions, namely: Accra West Ashanti East Eastern Central Tema Accra East Ashanti West Volta Western In the course of its operations, ECG has not been able to match the demand of electricity with the needed network upgrades and expansions. Insufficient tariffs have placed the company in a poor financial state with inadequate investments such that most of the equipment in operation are obsolete, and the transformers and associated distribution systems are constantly overloaded. This has resulted in high distribution system losses, poor electricity supply quality and reliability leading to considerable customer dissatisfaction. It is the objective of the Ministry of Energy (MoE) to improve the electric power distribution system of the Electricity Company of Ghana to levels consistent with best industry practice in order to support the Government of Ghana's economic development goals. In line with this objective, MoE proposes to apply some of the funds obtained from the World Bank under the Ghana Thermal Credit facility (IDA 2682) to finance aspects of ECG's investment programme under the Distribution System Upgrade Project (DSUP).  In compliance with the requirements of the World Bank, the borrower (MOE/ECG) is undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposed developments under the DSUP. REFAST Consulting, a Ghanaian Engineering and Environmental consultancy has been engaged to facilitate the conduct of the EIA. 1.1 Objectives of the EIA An initial screening and evaluation (Scoping) was carried out at the inception of the EIA to: