Livaningo Defends Rigorous Study

(Maputo) Mozambican environmentalists opposition to the construction of a new hydroelectric project on the Zambezi River near the giant Cahora Bassa is increasing. The future dam, named Mepanda Nkuwa, would require an investiment of about US$1.2 billion and is considered by the Government to be crucial to supply energy to grand enterprises to be built in Mozambique.

After the recent conclusion of a feasibility study, the Government began a search for potential financial partners for construction of the dam.

The proponents of the project are convinced that construction of the dam will begin in 2004.

Livaningo, an environmental NGO, believes that the project should be suspended until a transparent evaluation of Mozambique’s energy needs in order to conform to the guidelines of the World Commission on Dams, an independent organization that monitors construction of dams and their impacts.

"If it is determined that Mozambique requires more energy, then an exhaustive study of all the existing alternatives should be done. If the evaluation considers that Mepanda Nkuwa is the best option, a planning process for construction of the project should go according to the best practice guidelines specified by the WCD," says Livaningo, which adds "only in that way will they be able to believe that Mepanda Nkuwa is not bad business for Mozambique." For this NGO, additional studies are required before the beginning of the work, much of the data that constitutes existing studies of the environmental impact is based on suppositions and not detailed retraction of data.

Livaningo lists a series of potential environmental and social impacts that could occur from construction of the project. The reservoir of Mepanda Nkuwa would be 100 square kilometers, one of the largest on the African continent. According to Livaningo, "this reservoir would forcibly dislocate more than 1400 people and destroy many hectares of arable land and pastures. More serious impacts could occur downstream. The dam would cause daily fluctuations in the river, provoking mini–floods which would impact about 150,000 people."

Also, "agriculture along the river banks would be constantly damaged by these mini–floods, and it would make navigation difficult and reduce fish resources. Important sandbanks would suffer erosion, destroying the ecological balance."

Regarding the social impacts, Livaningo recalls that world experience suggests that compensation of people dislocated by dam construction is not effective.

The organization cites a conclusion of the WCD which says "when populations move in preparation for the construction of large hydroelectric projects, they usually live under worsened conditions than before. And programs to compensate losses and and impacts to livelihood have generally not been adequate."

In the specific case of Mepanda Nkuwa, Livaningo says that the compensation program for dislocated people "is very informal and superficial. And communities that would be affected downstream of the dam are not eligible to receive compensation or benefits from development programs."