Uzbekistan: Sirdarya 1,500MW CCGT Power Project

OBJECTIVE

To increase the availability of high efficiency gas power generation capacity in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

DESCRIPTION

The Project involves the design, engineering, construction, operation, maintenance, and transfer of a 1,500MW greenfield combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant and associated infrastructure to be implemented as an Independent Power Producer (IPP) facility. The Project is being developed by ACWA Power, through a Project Company, which has entered into a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement with JSC National Electric Networks of Uzbekistan (NENU) in March 2020.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INFORMATION

Policies and Standards. The proposed financing will be co-financed with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Project's environmental and social (ES) risks and impacts have been assessed in accordance with EBRD’s Environmental and Social Policy (EBRD's ESP) dated April 2019 and related Performance Requirements (PRs). To ensure a harmonized approach to addressing the ES risks and impacts of the Project, and as permitted under AIIB’s Environmental and Social Policy (AIIB's ESP), EBRD’s ESP and relevant PRs will apply to this Project in lieu of AIIB’s ESP. AIIB has reviewed EBRD's ESP and relevant PRs and is satisfied that: (a) they are consistent with AIIB’s Articles of Agreement and materially consistent with the provisions of AIIB’s ESP, including AIIB's Environmental and Social Exclusion List and relevant Environmental and Social Standards; and (b) the monitoring procedures that are in place are appropriate for the Project. EBRD has assigned Category “A” to this Project which is equivalent to Category A if AIIB’s ESP were applicable. EBRD’s PRs that are triggered for this Project include PR1, PR2, PR3, PR4, PR5, PR6, PR8 and PR10. 

An Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) with a Framework for Environmental and Social Management (FESM) and a separate Environment and Social Action Plan (ESAP) have been prepared in accordance with EBRD’s ESP. The ESAP includes time-bound actions that the client will be required to carry out during the implementation of this Project.  A Livelihood Restoration Framework and Stakeholder Engagement Plan have also been prepared. An Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD) has been carried out. Based on the ESDD, relevant recommendations were included into the ESAP. 

Information Disclosure. The ESIA, ESAP, Livelihood Restoration Framework and Stakeholder Engagement Plan documents in English and Russian languages have been disclosed and made available for download at the ACWA Power website and EBRD website. The Non-technical summaries in English, Russian and Uzbek languages are also included.  AIIB’s website will include links to the documentation on the ACWA Power website and EBRD website.  

Grievance Redress Mechanism. A detailed grievance redress mechanism (GRM) is provided in the Stakeholder Engagement Plan. The construction and commissioning phase will require two separate GRMs to be implemented, one for internal parties, i.e., construction and commissioning personnel, workers, project staff (including sub-contractors’ staff and visitors); and the other for external parties, i.e., Project-affected people. Similar GRMs will be established for the operation phase.