According to the Bank’s website, the Program Development Objective (PDO) is to increase access to clean energy in rural areas of Zambia.

The Program Framework for the MPA seeks to implement the government strategic vision of increasing reliable electricity supply and expanding access to energy to spur inclusive economic growth. The MPA program framework creates the pathway for achievement of the vision. The MPA framework aligns with the government program for energy sector transformation in Zambia, built on four pillars namely, (i) Improved sector planning and optimized system expansion; (ii) Improved operation and financial performance of ZESCO and Rural Electrification Authority (REA); (iii) Increased access to electricity, and (iv) enabling environment for private sector participation.

Because of the significant geographic dispersion of the participating districts, different scales of proposed investments, the potential direct, indirect and cumulative environmental and social risks and impacts associated with many sub-projects in the Program, the capacity of REA, and gaps identified in the institutions responsible for managing environmental, social and health risks in the country, the overall ESHS risk of the Program is rated as Substantial.

The main environmental health and safety (EHS) risks and impacts will include: At construction phase; (i) Disturbance and loss of existing vegetation and potential impact to flora and fauna species (ii) potential solid and liquid waste generation from project activities; (iii) potential increased surface runoff during rainy season that could lead to erosion in areas with unprotected soil in neighbouring facilities; (iv) Land degradation impacts from sourcing of construction material from quarry and borrow pits for use in civil works (v) exposure of proximal community members to community health and safety risks; (vi) increased noise and air pollution (dust and emissions) from construction activities, water borne diseases, road and traffic safety; exposure of workers to occupational health and safety risks which include (vii) working at height; (viii) exposure to falling objects; noise and dust emissions; (ix) electrical hazards and chemical hazards associated welding flames; (x) exhaustion; and (xi) Ergonomics, repetitive motion, manual Handling. At operational and maintenance phase(i) equipment and machinery used could be a source of hazardous and noxious waste such as running engines, oil from leaking transformers, electronic waste, used engine oil and oil filters; and (ii)) community health and safety risks including structural stability of the installed energy equipment, and risks associated with electrical shocks, overcurrent and decoupling. (iii) Occupational health and safety risks including working at height and exposure to electrical hazards.

Social risks and impacts will include: i) the potential acquisition of wayleave and loss of land value along the wayleave due to usage restrictions; ii) potential exclusion of vulnerable households and individuals1 from Program benefits including consultations and electricity access due to their inability to pay for wiring and connection costs; iii) potential failure to institute differentiated treatment for vulnerable households from accessing project benefits; iv) potential disproportionate impact of potential tariff increases on the poor households; v) potential increase in Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, and Sexual Harassment (SEA-SH) cases due to influx of workers into sub-project areas; vi) risk of illegal and unsafe connections, resulting in increased exposure to electrical accidents; vii) limited stakeholder engagements and disclosure of program information presenting risks of increased grievances.

IDA Grant: US$ 200.00 million

OPEC FUND: US$ 30.00 million

SWEDEN: Swedish Intl. Dev. Cooperation Agency (SIDA): US$ 10.00 million

No contacts available at the time of disclosure.

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