Basin-Wide Rapid Sustainability Assessment Tool Initiative on - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Basin-Wide Rapid Sustainability Assessment Tool

Initiative on Sustainable Hydropower Mekong River Commission Secretariat

1 Presentation by Mr. Voradeth Phonekeo,

WHAT IS THE BASIN-WIDE RAPID SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT TOOL

(RSAT) ?

A multi-stakeholder dialogue and assessment tool to consider hydropower sustainability issues in a basin wide context.

• Rapid
• Stakeholders conduct the assessment
• Action orientated
• The sub-basin is assessed, not the

hydropower project

Existing dam Proposed dam

Water Week, Stockholm September 2013

Why a basin wide hydropower sustainability assessment tool ?

• Mekong context: dynamic development of multiple

projects at different stages in a basin

• Need for a rapid tool to address basin wide issues,

beyond individual projects

• Provide a basis for dialogue – develop common

language and understanding of issues between key stakeholders

• To support the MRC Basin Development Strategy

strategic objectives

• Complement existing more data intensive tools

(SEA, CIA, EIA, IHA Protocol)

Water Week, Stockholm September 2013

• Addressing sustainability pillars
• World Commission Dams (2000)
• Research in hydropower sector internationally
• International standards – sustainability
• IWRM Principles
• Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol
• Safeguard policies – ADB, World Bank, IFC
• Experiences in the Mekong Region
• MRC Technical Review Group (TRG) Input
• MRC Member country and expert feedback (trials)

Background of RSAT :

Designed for the Mekong context

Governance Social Economic Environmental Technical

RSAT PRINCIPLES

What are the core principles of the RSAT?

• Co-operation in international river basins
• Integrating river basin planning and hydropower regulatory

and management frameworks

• Ensuring robust governance for sustainability at all levels
• Using collaborative and multi-disciplinary approaches to
• ptions assessment, hydropower scheme design and operation
• Engaging and consulting stakeholders and protecting rights

and entitlements

• Equitably sharing costs and benefits of development
• Addressing poverty and food security in hydropower basins
• Maintaining basin wide ecosystem integrity

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SUMMARY

The RSAT process brings together river basin and hydropower stakeholders to consider the sub-basin using a series of 10 hydropower sustainability topics from the perspective of:

• River basin planning and management
• Energy planning
• Hydropower projects
• Regulatory and governance

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8

Topic 1 Institutional setting Topic 2 Options assessment, siting and design Topic 3 Financial and economic viability of hydropower Topic 4 Equitable sharing of hydropower costs and benefits Topic 5 Social issues and stakeholder consultation Topic 6 Environmental management and ecosystem integrity Topic 7 Flows and reservoir management Topic 8 Erosion, sediment transport and geomorphological impacts Topic 9 Management of fisheries resources Topic 10 Dam and community safety 10 RSAT TOPICS

River basin planning and management –Planning, management, basin wide baseline data, institutions Energy planning – Power sector planning and it relationship to river basin planning Hydropower projects –Plans, studies and management actions of all hydropower projects in the basin Regulatory and governance – Regulatory and institutional framework for hydropower development and water resources

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Four criteria are used to analyse the RSAT topics

1 RSAT Dialogue Analysis Action Planning Monitoring

Government Line Agencies/Ministries  Scoping –  Performance monitoring  Gap analysis  Basin/cascade optimisation

Hydropower developers and their consultants

 Risk assessment  Design and siting  Sustainability optimisation  Stakeholder engagement and dialogue Mekong River Commission  Initiative for Sustainable Hydropower capacity building and decision support

River Basin Organisations (RBO’s)

 Support RBO establishment and management  Capacity building  Basin hydropower status reports  River basin planning and management for hydropower Banks and investors  Financial and reputational risk assessment  Investment risk evaluation Provincial and local institutions and community groups  Identify local and provincial hydropower risks and opportunities  Assess benefit sharing arrangements  Improve local capacity for sustainable development

Examples of how different stakeholders can use the RSAT

Water Week, Stockholm September 2013

RSAT Trials 2010-11

• Nam Ngum – Lao PDR
• Nam Ou - Lao PDR
• Sre Pok Lower - Cambodia
• Sre Pok Upper - Vietnam
• Nam Kam – Thailand
• 3S Basin - transboundary

3S Basin (transboundary) Sre Pok Upper and Lower Nam Kam Nam Ngum Nam Ou

EXAMPLES OF RSAT RECOMMENDATIONS from Training in 2011

• Develop EIA guidelines and

checklists hydropower

• Improve IWRM capacity and

knowledge

• Economic evaluation of indirect

costs

• Baseline data on river

morphology and water quality

• Improve co-ordination between

ministries

• Develop standards for sediment

management

• Policy framework and regs

required for benefit sharing

• Build co-operation at national

and transboundary level

• Develop capacity building plan for

sustainable hydropower

• Establish formal mechanisms for

conflict resolution and information sharing

• Integrate fisheries management

and hydropower into IWRM

• Develop warning system for

water releases

• Develop dam safety monitoring

framework

12 Case study: Lower Sre Pok

Water Week, Stockholm September 2013

Examples of RSAT assessment

• bjectives

Stakeholders agree on assessment objectives Methods and participants are chosen to match the

• bjective

Examples:

– Dialogue between stakeholders – Scope more detailed studies (CIA, SEA) – Watershed management planning – Assessment of basin wide risks and opportunities – Prioritise actions for RBO’s – Capacity building and training – Monitor performance and identify gaps

NEXT STEPS:

• Explore an RSAT version Trans Boundary based
• n Feedbacks from previous workshops.
• Trial in workshops in MRC member states

1 4

Electricity demand market assessment resource assessment Power Development Plan Data base of power

• ptions,

Other Sector inputs Screening Analysis Economic Analysis SEA, CIA Refinement of Hydropower Project Portfolio (ESIA, cascades, multipurpose use) Project Selection and Approval Process Construction & Operations (EMP, SMP, RMP)

ISH02 Multi purpose Valuation ISH02 Valuation and Evaluation ISH01 Ecologically Sensitive Sub-Basins ISH01 Ecologically Sensitive Sub-Basins ISH01 Ecologically Sensitive Sub-Basins ISH02 Valuation & Evaluation

Contribution of ISH Outputs to the Hydropower Planning Cycle

RSAT RSAT RSAT RSAT ISH0306 Risks and Mitigation ISH0306 Risks and Mitigation ISH0306 Risks and Mitigation ISH0306 Risks and Mitigation

ISH11 Information for HP Planning and Management

Not legally binding but serving as a guidance for national application Mekong Basin wide application

Guiding Principles for Sustainable Hydropower

General Principles Strategic Planning Guides Preliminary Design Guidelines for Mainstream Dams Risk Mitigation Guidelines for Mainstream and Tributary Hydropower Joint Cascade Operations and Community Safety

 Cooperation on International River Basins  Robust Governance at all levels  Base line data informs decisions [ISH11]  Multidisciplinary approach  Engage stakeholders – protect rights and entitlements  Equitable share benefits and costs  Address Poverty and Food Security  Maintain Basin wide ecosystem integrity

• Planning around

Ecologically Sensitive areas (ISH01)

• Multi-purpose

evaluation of HP portfolios (ISH02)

• Navigation
• Fish Passage
• Sediment Transport and

River Morphology

• Water Quality and

Aquatic Ecology

• Safety of Dams

General Mitigation

• Alternative Design
• ptions
• Fish
• Sediment and River

Morphology

• Water Quality
• Biodiversity
• Operational Flexibility
• Cooperation on

transboundary basins

• Joint operations for

cascades

• Emergency Response

and Community Safety

Mekong Agreement 1995

Hydropower Sustainability Dialogue and Assessment (Rapid Basin-wide Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Tool (RSAT))

Thank you for your attention