Environmental and Social Impact Assessment - Gibe III

Gibe III – Environmental and Social Impact Assessment 300 ENV R CS 002 C - A9003099
6.2 Avoidance of CO2 emissions
The energy production process of an hydroelectric power plant doesn’t generate harmful emissions in the
atmosphere because it is based on the use of such a renewable energy source as the water.
The Gibe III hydroelectric power plant permits to satisfy the energy requirement avoiding the use of fossil
combustibles, that are limitedly available in the underground and that, when burned, produce pollutant
emissions, particularly CO2, for the atmosphere.
Generally hydropower offsets thermal or other types of generation. Besides replacing capacity and energy,
the use of hydropower also leads to a reduction of thermal plant emission (CO2), which is the most important
Green House Gas contributor. The cost of one tone of saved CO2 to date is about US$ 4 to 5 according to
GEF, but is expected to rise considerably in the future. Although it is too early now, it is possible that when
the project will be operating there will be international trading of CO2 certificates, and the project could
become a direct beneficiary.
Voting in support of hydroelectric power generation and provision of enough funds for the development of
hydroelectric power schemes by financing organizations may contribute for the reduction of green house gas
emission globally.
6.3 Prospects to Export Power
The project, together with the other hydropower plants under construction, will greatly increase the
generation capacity of the country and will also allow the export of the surplus of electricity to the nearby
countries (including Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda) with relevant economical and environmental
benefits for the whole region.
6.4 Effective Utilization of the Country’s Water Resource
Effective and efficient utilization of countries water resource for the socio-economic development of the
country will be one of the benefits. It is believed that through the production of electric power the economy
of the country will grow. Availability of sufficient energy would encourage the development of other sectors
such as industry and agriculture.
6.5 Improvements in Local Access
In terms of roads and settlements Gibe III Project will require some efforts. New permanent roads will be
constructed in the project area to provide vehicle access to the sites of the project components.
Under this Project two new roads will be constructed one on the right bank (R1) and one on the left bank
(L1). Road R1 and L1 have a total length of 34 km.
All these roads are temporary and open only for construction purposes, anyhow they will greatly improve
transport and thereby trade links from the project area to Sodo and other major demand centres in the
country. Transportation companies, hotels, small factories and other outlets providing goods and services
will take advantage by the project, the purchase of goods and services will generate income, and contribute
to salaries and employment during power plant construction. Some of the small entrepreneurs without
aspirations of long term economic growth probably will move in other zones after power plant construction,
but a large portion of the commercial growth will remain.
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