Transcript Social Impact Assessment Study

EIA for the proposed Desalination Plant
North of Swakopmund:
Social Impact Assessment
Structure
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Issues to be addressed
Legal framework/policy guidance
Main Findings
Overlaps
Impacts and Mitigations
Issues to be addressed: Scoping
Issues
Description
Expected increase in
Population size
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Employment creation •
Increased pressure on resources, services, informal
settlement, communicable diseases.
Unemployment
Benefits and risks associated with additional
employment creation and job seekers including
employment creation, poverty reduction, increased
informal settlement, increased pressure on local
housing facilities and services.
Education and Skills
Transfer
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Increased educational opportunities and skills
transfer
Rates and Taxes
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Benefits related to increased rates and taxes
Impacts on existing
industrial base
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Extent to which development would influence the
existing industrial ventures
Waster disposal and
sewerage issues
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How will this be handled and can it be
accommodated
Issues to be addressed: Scoping (ctd)
Issues
Description
Social, recreational
and tourism impacts
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How would the project influence recreational
fishing, tourism and other social processes
Economic benefit
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Contribution to economic structure and existing
socio-economic trend in the coastal towns
Sale of water from the desalination plant
Affordability
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Affordability of water
Beneficiaries
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Who benefits and who pays?
Safety and security
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What are the safety and security issues pertaining to
the proposed plant?
Legislation and Policy Guidelines Used
• National policy guidelines
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Poverty Reduction Strategy
Poverty Reduction Action Plan
Vision 2030
NDP3
• Planning and Environmental Legislation
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Town Planning Ordinance
Townships and Division of Land Ordinance
Local Authorities Act
Regional Councils Act
Environmental Management Bill
Main Findings
• Vision 2030
– Articulates Namibia’s Vision for the future
– Sub – Visions dealing with free movement, urbanisation, urban
management, open, competitive and diversified economy,
strategic exploitation of mineral resources, and maintenance of
vital ecological processes.
• NDP3
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Puts Vision into practice.
Sustainability
Competitive economy
Provision of infrastructure to support development
Promotion of development of new mines
Even mentions desalination of seawater
Main Findings (ctd)
• National and Regional Issues
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High levels of urbanisation
High levels of unemployment
Huge income disparities
Skills mismatch
High levels of HIV/AIDS
Wide disparities in infrastructural development
Erongo - second most affluent region
Sustained growth in GDP
Growth in primary and Secondary GDP contributions
Investing in people, especially education and health a problem
Main Findings (ctd)
• Local Issues
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High levels of urbanisation
High levels of unemployment
Huge income disparities
High levels of HIV/AIDS
Institutional capacity
Regulatory frameworks effective
Affordability limits LA ability to respond
Affluent communities and sought after destination
• Site ability to accommodate
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Mining licenses
EPL
Private Game Reserve
Solid waste limitations
Main Findings (ctd)
Main Findings (ctd)
Overlaps
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Solid waste and wastewater
Visual impact and noise
Coastal access
Sustainability of demand
decommissioning
Impacts: the “red herrings”
• National Affordability (can we afford not to?)
– Project design and funding
– Agreements
• Operational and Financial Risks
– The Uranium boom as underlying driver - risk
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Uncontrolled/ undesirable development
Risk of Population Influx
Influence of the new sewage works
Future use of the pipeline servitude
Impact on Tourism and recreational fishing
Impacts: the real issues
• Conflict with other development plans
– Mining license and private game reserve.
– Mitigation – up-front agreements
– EPL on land
• Conflict with Marine Use
– EPL licenses
– Clarify rights
• Employment creation
– Direct Limited - enhancement to benefit locals
– Downstream ( Mines and Contractors) e.g. Rossing 1175
employees and 870 contractors
– Langer Heinrich 132 employees and 304 contractors
Impacts: the real issues (ctd)
• Drive regional economic development
– Not directly since water will not benefit local authorities
– Downstream contracting important
– Free water for industrial development
• Waste production and Treatment
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Major quantities
Swakop landfill cannot handle
Seek mitigation measures
Not simple to operate and EMA requirements.
Other alternatives