Egypt: Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment of Renewable Energy Projects in the East Nile Area

Overview
Project Summary Document

TCRS 838

Status TC com approved

Location

Egypt

Business Sector

Energy, Real Estate

Notice Type

Public

PSD Disclosed

01 Jun 2018

Project Description

The TC is supporting the Government of Egypt (GoE), together with the National Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), in undertaking a Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) to inform decision-making process for developing renewable energy (RE), specifically wind and solar (PV) projects in the East Nile Area. The SESA is a systematic decision-support process that will help to ensure that environmental, social and other sustainability aspects are considered effectively in policy, plan and programme making.

Following the issuance of Feed-in Tariff (“FiT”) presidential law in Egypt in December 2014 (Presidential Decree-Law No. 203/2014), the EBRD has been engaged in partnership with the GoE to identify a portfolio of RE projects (mainly wind and solar projects) to be financed by prequalified Foreign Direct Investors. The GoE has, through Presidential Decree No 456 of 2014, which was modified by the Decree No 116 of 2016 for the development of wind and solar energy projects, identified various locations in Egypt, which may be suitable for RE projects, including a 2,200km² area located to the East of the Nile River, which extends across three Governorates: Beni Suef, El Minya and Assuit. Most of this East Nile Area is located in the El Minya Governorate. Smaller portions extend into the Assiut Governorate in the south and into the Beni Suef Governorate in the North. The East Nile Area has been identified based on existing data on solar and wind potential and existing land use and has a potential useable area of 1,725 km² for RE development

The Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) for the East Nile Area has the following objectives:

To provide a reliable source of environmental and social data for the East Nile Area to inform the SESA and clarify the need for future environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA) required for permitting and/or financing purposes of specific projects.
To identify areas in the East Nile Area which are 1) suitable for RE project development, 2) which may be suitable subject to impacts being mitigated, 3) and those areas which are not suitable for RE projects.
To identify and assess potential environmental and social impacts associated with RE projects in the East Nile Area and define mitigation and management measures to address these potential impacts, including recommendations on project design.
To engage with stakeholders, including members of the public on the planned development of RE projects in this area.
To develop a Geographic Information System ("GIS") database which will inform future RE projects.
To provide training to NREA on SESA, ESIA and GIS.

The SESA also includes the procurement of equipment (wind and solar masts, GIS systems and laser binoculars) to inform the SESA and support future assessments and surveys for RE projects.

Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA)

NREA appointed a SESA consultant, a joint venture of Lahmeyer International and ecoda Environmental Consultants, in 2016 in accordance with the EBRD’s Procurement Policies and Rules. To inform the SESA, the SESA Consultant conducted a scoping study in 2016. The scoping study was informed by a scoping meeting with various stakeholders held in Cairo in July 2016. The outcomes of the scoping study are documented in a Scoping Report which set out the terms of reference for the SESA (see below). The Scoping Report is complemented with a Stakeholder Engagement Plan. The scoping report set out the scope of the SESA, including the baseline studies to be conducted and the environmental and social impacts to be considered and assessed. The SEP sets out how stakeholders were consulted and the information disclosed during the SESA process and what will take place during the development of the RE projects in the East Nile Area. The SEP is a document that will be regularly revised and updated to ensure it remains relevant and effective. Field surveys commenced in 2016 with spring and autumn bird surveys. These surveys, and others, continued into 2017.

The SESA process has been documented in two separate wind and solar SESA reports. Separate reports have been developed as infrastructure height limitations imposed by the GoE limit what type of RE project can be developed in the East Nile Area. Areas with height restrictions are more suitable for solar development while those areas without such restrictions are more suitable to wind power projects. There are specific areas designated for wind and for solar development. The two SESA reports are complemented with a Recommendations Report on RE development in the East Nile Area.

The draft wind and solar SESA reports, the draft Recommendations Report and Non-Technical Summary documents were disclosed for public review and comment for a 60 day period (commencing 1 June 2018 and ending on 31 July 2018). During this period NREA and the SESA consultant held a public meeting to present the findings of the SESA process. The meeting took place on 28 June 2018 in El Minya Governorate (Public Hearing Report available below)). After the 60 day comment period the reports will be finalised, and at the request of NREA, certain documents were translated into Arabic. Final versions of all reports are now disclosed online below.

The SESA Reports and Recommendations Report include guidance on the future development of RE project in the East Nile Area. This includes areas that are suitable for development and those that are not. Further the reports set out mitigation, management and monitoring measures and controls to be implemented by each RE project. Data generated by the SESA process has been captured digitally in a geographical information system or GIS, which will be used by NREA to inform, site and design future RE projects in the East Nile Area.

Individual projects (~50Mw) will be subject to individual environmental permitting and potentially additional environmental and social assessment by potential project lenders. The SESA, however, will provide a robust baseline to inform such permitting and assessment processes.

Procurement of equipment

NREA, with the support of a procurement consultant, launched a tender in accordance with the EBRD’s Procurement Policies and Rules for the supply of the following equipment to inform the SESA and future RE project development:

9 wind metrological satiations masts;
3 solar metrological satiations masts;
5 Laser Binoculars;
2 integrated GIS platforms (both hardware and software);
Data collection for both solar and wind meteorological masts for a period of 12 months after commissioning;
Preventive and corrective maintenance at all masts including periodically cleaning of the Pyranometers and Soiling station of the three solar metrological stations during the 12 months of the operation; and
Post Calibration of 45 Anemometers.

A successful tender was awarded and the supply of equipment is currently in progress.

Training of NREA staff

Training of NREA staff is complete and has included:

Procurement training
On-the-job SESA/ESIA field work training
SESA/ESIA training
GIS training

Draft reports - 1 June 2018

Scoping Report and Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP)

EBRD: Scoping Report

Draft Wind and Solar SESA reports and NTS

EBRD: Wind SESA and NTS (English | Arabic) | Solar SESA and NTS (English | Arabic)
NREA: Wind SESA and NTS (English | Arabic) | Solar SESA and NTS (English | Arabic)

Draft Recommendations Report

EBRD: Recommendations Report | Recommendations Report Summary (Arabic)
NREA: Recommendations Report | Recommendations Report Summary (Arabic)

Final reports - 21 January 2019

Final Wind and Solar SESA reports and Non-Technical Summaries (NTS)

EBRD: Wind SESA (English | Arabic) and NTS (English | Arabic) | Solar SESA (English | Arabic) and NTS (English | Arabic) | Annex A2 Report on the Scoping meeting (Arabic)

Public Hearing Report

EBRD: Public Hearing Report

Final Recommendations Report

EBRD: Recommendations Report | Recommendations Report Summary (Arabic)

Final reports are also available on NREA’s website.

Comments and feedback

The draft SESA reports and the Recommendations Report were publically disclosed and available for comment from 1 June 2018 for a minimum of 60 calendar days. A public hearing was held in El Minya Governorate at the Horus Hotel on Kornish El Nile Street on 28 June 2018. The SESA and Recommendations Reports have now been finalised and publically disclosed (above).

Any comments or feedback on renewable energy development in the East Nile Area or on the SESA process can contact New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA):

Attention: Eng. Asmaa Kamel or Eng. Akmal Mahmoud, NREA
Street Address: Dr. Ibrahim Abou El Naga St., Abbas El-Akkad Extension, Nasr City, Cairo
Telephone: +20 (0) 1280134094 and +20 (0) 1002753506

E-Mail: eng.as_ka@yahoo.com & akmal.mahmoud@gmail.com
Website: http://www.nrea.gov.eg/

Enquiries

Business opportunities

For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

For business opportunities with EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com

General enquiries

Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form.

TCRS 838

Status TC com approved

Location

Egypt

Business Sector

Energy, Real Estate

Notice Type

Public

PSD Disclosed

01 Jun 2018

Project Description

The Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) for the East Nile Area has the following objectives:

To provide a reliable source of environmental and social data for the East Nile Area to inform the SESA and clarify the need for future environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA) required for permitting and/or financing purposes of specific projects.
To identify areas in the East Nile Area which are 1) suitable for RE project development, 2) which may be suitable subject to impacts being mitigated, 3) and those areas which are not suitable for RE projects.
To identify and assess potential environmental and social impacts associated with RE projects in the East Nile Area and define mitigation and management measures to address these potential impacts, including recommendations on project design.
To engage with stakeholders, including members of the public on the planned development of RE projects in this area.
To develop a Geographic Information System ("GIS") database which will inform future RE projects.
To provide training to NREA on SESA, ESIA and GIS.

The SESA also includes the procurement of equipment (wind and solar masts, GIS systems and laser binoculars) to inform the SESA and support future assessments and surveys for RE projects.

Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA)

Procurement of equipment

9 wind metrological satiations masts;
3 solar metrological satiations masts;
5 Laser Binoculars;
2 integrated GIS platforms (both hardware and software);
Data collection for both solar and wind meteorological masts for a period of 12 months after commissioning;
Preventive and corrective maintenance at all masts including periodically cleaning of the Pyranometers and Soiling station of the three solar metrological stations during the 12 months of the operation; and
Post Calibration of 45 Anemometers.

A successful tender was awarded and the supply of equipment is currently in progress.

Training of NREA staff

Training of NREA staff is complete and has included:

Procurement training
On-the-job SESA/ESIA field work training
SESA/ESIA training
GIS training

Draft reports - 1 June 2018

Scoping Report and Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP)

EBRD: Scoping Report

Draft Wind and Solar SESA reports and NTS

EBRD: Wind SESA and NTS (English | Arabic) | Solar SESA and NTS (English | Arabic)
NREA: Wind SESA and NTS (English | Arabic) | Solar SESA and NTS (English | Arabic)

Draft Recommendations Report

EBRD: Recommendations Report | Recommendations Report Summary (Arabic)
NREA: Recommendations Report | Recommendations Report Summary (Arabic)

Final reports - 21 January 2019

Final Wind and Solar SESA reports and Non-Technical Summaries (NTS)

EBRD: Wind SESA (English | Arabic) and NTS (English | Arabic) | Solar SESA (English | Arabic) and NTS (English | Arabic) | Annex A2 Report on the Scoping meeting (Arabic)

Public Hearing Report

EBRD: Public Hearing Report

Final Recommendations Report

EBRD: Recommendations Report | Recommendations Report Summary (Arabic)

Final reports are also available on NREA’s website.

Comments and feedback

Any comments or feedback on renewable energy development in the East Nile Area or on the SESA process can contact New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA):

TC Recipient Information

New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA).

Any competitive selections for business opportunities relating to this project will be published on the EBRD's website: Consultancy Procurement Opportunities.

General enquiries

EBRD project enquiries not related to procurement:
Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

The AIP sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders so as to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations following its entry into force on 1 January 2020. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.

Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (e.g. through the Client’s Project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).

IPAM independently reviews Project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the Mechanism is: to support dialogue between Project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or Project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.

Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate; how to submit a Request for review; or contact IPAM via email ipam@ebrd.com to get guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.

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Egypt: Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment of Renewable Energy Projects in the East Nile Area

Project Description

Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA)

Procurement of equipment

Draft reports - 1 June 2018

Final reports - 21 January 2019

Comments and feedback

Enquiries

Business opportunities

General enquiries

Project Description

Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA)

Procurement of equipment

Draft reports - 1 June 2018

Final reports - 21 January 2019

Comments and feedback

TC Recipient Information

General enquiries

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)