Uzbekistan: Sherabad Solar Power Project (ADB-55101-001)

Countries
  • Uzbekistan
Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.
Specific Location
Sherabad District/Surkhandarya region
Whenever identified, the area within countries where the impacts of the investment may be experienced. Exact locations of projects may not be identified fully or at all in project documents. Please review updated project documents and community-led assessments.
Financial Institutions
  • Asian Development Bank (ADB)
International, regional and national development finance institutions. Many of these banks have a public interest mission, such as poverty reduction.
Project Status
Proposed
Stage of the project cycle. Stages vary by development bank and can include: pending, approval, implementation, and closed or completed.
Bank Risk Rating
B
Environmental and social categorization assessed by the development bank as a measure of the planned project’s environmental and social impacts. A higher risk rating may require more due diligence to limit or avoid harm to people and the environment. For example, "A" or "B" are risk categories where "A" represents the highest amount of risk. Results will include projects that specifically recorded a rating, all other projects are marked ‘U’ for "Undisclosed."
Voting Date
Mar 23, 2023
Date when project documentation and funding is reviewed by the Board for consideration and approval. Some development banks will state a "board date" or "decision date." When funding approval is obtained, the legal documents are accepted and signed, the implementation phase begins.
Borrower
"Nur Sherabad Solar PV" Foreign Enterprise Limited Liability Company
A public entity (government or state-owned) provided with funds or financial support to manage and/or implement a project.
Sectors
  • Energy
The service or industry focus of the investment. A project can have several sectors.
Investment Type(s)
Loan
The categories of the bank investment: loan, grant, guarantee, technical assistance, advisory services, equity and fund.
Investment Amount (USD)
$ 55.45 million
Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Primary Source

Original disclosure @ ADB website

Updated in EWS Feb 22, 2023

Disclosed by Bank Jan 18, 2023


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Project Description
If provided by the financial institution, the Early Warning System Team writes a short summary describing the purported development objective of the project and project components. Review the complete project documentation for a detailed description.

According to the Draft ESIA for the project, as disclosed by the ADB:

The project includes a "456.7 MWac solar PV project in Sherabad District, Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan, referred to as “the Project”. The Project site area is 631 ha. The
Project will also comprise a 50.5
km overhead transmission line from the on-site substation to the existing substation. The generation of a minimum 456.7 MWac of renewable energy, which is expected to provide clean energy to approximately 500,000 households in the Surkhandarya region."

The project description is also disclosed on the company's website, at the link: https://masdar.ae/Masdar-Clean-Energy/Projects/Sherabad-Solar-Project.

Early Warning System Project Analysis
For a project with severe or irreversible impacts to local community and natural resources, the Early Warning System Team may conduct a thorough analysis regarding its potential impacts to human and environmental rights.

As disclosed by the ADB:

The Project is classified category B for involuntary resettlement under ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS, 2009). The solar power plant will be located on a 631 hectares land plot that belongs to the government land reserve. The required land will be leased by the borrower from government under a 30-year term. Nearby villages seasonally use the wider solar site area for pasture and grazing of livestock, but the site area can be readily replaced by other higher quality nearby pasture sites. The footprint for the overhead transmission line is 50.5km long and its towers will require permanent acquisition of 1.17 hectares of land. Six-meter-wide access roads for heavy machineries, tower assembly areas and an 18-meter right of way for the TL between will also result in temporary displacement impacts. Overall, the project will result in economic displacement of 40 households and a cotton farm business which employs 18 households. A Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan (LARP) has been developed and will implemented by the borrower in accordance with national legislation and regulations and ADB's SPS. The Plan provides for compensation and livelihood restoration support to the affected people.
The project is classified as category C for Indigenous People under ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (2009). Results of the initial environmental and social examination (IESE) and the LARP done by the borrower's consultants indicate that the project will not have any impacts on Indigenous Peoples or on any vulnerable ethnic minorities, and its operations are not anticipated to result in any Indigenous Peoples impacts.  
Investment Description
Here you can find a list of individual development financial institutions that finance the project.

The project also receives financial contribution from the EBRD and the AIIB.

Private Actors Description
A Private Actor is a non-governmental body or entity that is the borrower or client of a development project, which can include corporations, private equity and banks. This describes the private actors and their roles in relation to the project, when private actor information is disclosed or has been further researched.

According to the Draft ESIA for the project, as disclosed by the ADB:

The Project is being developed by Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC). Masdar is a global leader in renewable energy and sustainable urban development, with headquarters in Abu Dhabi. Over the past decade, Masdar have pioneered commercially viable solutions in clean energy, sustainable real estate and clean technology in the UAE and around the world.

The borrower ("Nur Sherabad Solar PV" Foreign Enterprise Limited Liability Company) is an Uzbek Project SPV fully owned by Masdar.

Private Actor 1 Private Actor 1 Role Private Actor 1 Sector Relation Private Actor 2 Private Actor 2 Role Private Actor 2 Sector
- - - - Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC - Masdar Parent Company Energy

Contact Information
This section aims to support the local communities and local CSO to get to know which stakeholders are involved in a project with their roles and responsibilities. If available, there may be a complaint office for the respective bank which operates independently to receive and determine violations in policy and practice. Independent Accountability Mechanisms receive and respond to complaints. Most Independent Accountability Mechanisms offer two functions for addressing complaints: dispute resolution and compliance review.

Responsible ADB Officer:

Xeniya Rogan - Private Sector Operations Department

Project contacts not available at the time of disclosure.

Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC):

Address: Masdar City, Presidential Flight, Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, UAE, P.O. Box 54115
Phone: +971 2 653 3333
Fax: +971 2 653 6002  
Website: https://masdar.ae/en

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.adb.org/forms/request-information-form

ADB has a two-stage appeals process for requesters who believe that ADB has denied their request for information in violation of its Access to Information Policy. You can learn more about filing an appeal at: https://www.adb.org/site/disclosure/appeals

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB

The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main.

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