A two-day meeting was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to review the draft Design Study Report and draft Preliminary ESIA/RAP study report for the Kenya Tanzania Interconnection. It was attended by thirty participants including the Project Management Committee (PMC) composed of representatives of the Ministries of Energy, Power Utility Agencies and National Environmental Authorities from Kenya and Tanzania along with development partner (Norway, World Bank, African Development Bank and French Development Agency representatives, RSWI and GENIVAR (the consulting companies currently undertaking the study), the Regional Power Trade Project and NELSAP staff.
This was the second meeting convened to review the Preliminary Study Reports submitted by the two consultants : 1). RSW International for the Feasibility Study, Detailed Design and Tender documents 2). GENIVAR for the Environment and Social Impact Assesment and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP).
Key Meeting Outcomes and Recommendations :
Participants advised that social analysis should include consultations with the lowest levels of project affected people. It was established that detailed consultations would be conducted when the most suitable corridor has been agreed upon and NELSAP would facilitate the contact and consultation with the Nile Basin Discourse and the Nile Media Network to enrich engagement with the civil society.
The need for social surveys and assessments was pointed out in order to identify in particular indigenous people likely to be affected by the project such as the Maasai and prepare an indigenous people’s policy. It was advised that to the extent possible, due attention to the Maasai livelihood, their mobility and the temporary nature of their structures with regard to compensation should be made.
The meeting further pointed out the need to consult with aviation authorities for lists of airports and airstrips as well as the Wildlife Authorities and Forest Services in both Kenya and Tanzania to ensure that there are no forests and parks located on the corridor.
The meeting recommended the use of the load forecasts from both governments of Kenya and Tanzania and the need to consider the various national plan documents with regard to demand forecasting.
The definition of Rural Electrification was clarified and it was advised that rural electrification’ should be replaced by ‘electrification along the transmission line. The Consultant was advised to take into account the rural electrification master plan for each country and to consider the other interconnections around Lake Victoria such as the Rusumo Falls, and the future Uganda – Tanzania interconnection.