The People's Democratic Republic of Lao (Lao PDR) is pursuing a strategy of renewable energy sector expansion for domestic consumption and export to support socio-economic development targets. The power sector has grown rapidly over the past 20 years, with installed generating capacity rising from 700 megawatts (MW) in 2006 to 6,264 MW in 2016. Hydropower is the dominant energy source in the country and the Government of Lao PDR has ambitious plans to further expand power generating capacity over the coming years. Several feasibility studies for wind and solar power are underway, but these sectors are currently still in their infancy in Lao PDR.While renewable energy has the potential to help Lao PDR meet its development targets, the pace of change carries risks of significant environmental and social impacts. Individually, hydropower projects can lead to impacts on the aquatic and terrestrial environment, ecosystem services, communities and peoples' livelihoods. Cumulatively, multiple projects within the same watershed can magnify these adverse impacts by altering water quality, sediment transport and biodiversity flows with effects on native biota, agriculture, navigation and other river uses.
Authors
- Disclosure Date
- 2024/08/27
- Disclosure Status
- Disclosed
- Doc Name
- Terms of Reference: Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management of Renewable Energy Development in the Sekong River Basin, Lao PDR
- Pages
- 21
- Published in
- United States of America
- Unit Owning
- IFC
- Version Type
- Final
- Volume No
- 1
Table of Contents
- Terms of Reference 1
- Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management of Renewable Energy 1
- Development in the Sekong River Basin 1
- Lao PDR 1
- Glossary and Acronyms 2
- Table of Contents 3
- 1. Background 4
- 2. Vision and Objectives of the Project 7
- Vision 7
- Objectives of the Assignment 7
- 3. Project Scope 7
- 1 Integrated Cumulative Impact and Power Optimization Assessment 7
- Task A Review the regulatory framework 7
- Task B Scope the cumulative impact assessment 9
- Task C Scope activities and environmental drivers for the Base Case Scenario 9
- Task D Determine present conditions of VECs 9
- Task E Assess cumulative impacts of the Base Case Scenario 10
- Task F Collaborate in developing power generation scenarios for the Sekong River Basin 10
- Task G Assess cumulative impacts from the Scenarios 11
- Task H Design cumulative impact management measures and monitoring plans 11
- Task I Provide recommendations to reduce cumulative impacts and optimize power generation 11
- Task J Coordinate data management and mapping 11
- 2 Sekong Basin Cumulative Impact Co-Management Platform 12
- Task A Design the framework for a Sekong River Basin Cumulative Impact Co-Management Platform 12
- Task B Facilitate harmonization of data management mapping and reporting protocols 13
- 3 Capacity Building 13
- Task A Build the capacity of Government and private developers in CIA and basin co- management through workshops seminars and on-the-job training 13
- Task B Make recommendations on improvements to Lao PDRs draft CIA Guidelines based on the experience from the Sekong River Basin 14
- 4. Stakeholder Identification and Consultations 14
- 5. Project Management 16
- Institutional Arrangements 16
- Work Plan and Schedule 17
- Deliverables 17
- 6. Consultant Qualifications 18
- International Team Leader Cumulative Impact Assessment Specialist Hydropower 19
- National Team Leader Renewable Energy 19
- Water Resources Engineering Hydrology 19
- Civil Engineering Hydropower 19
- Biodiversity Ecology 20
- Social Development 20
- Stakeholder Engagement 20
- GIS specialist 20
