Sustainability was engaged by the African Development Bank (AfDB) to complete the Hwange Power Plant Environmental and Social Audit and Management Plans. The project commenced in 2013 and culminated in Sustainability being further engaged in 2015 to develop and implement a Biodiversity Management Plan to ensure compliance against the sustainability parameters outlined in the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP).
The Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe received a grant from the Zimbabwe Multi Donor Trust Fund administered by the AfDB towards the cost of the Emergency Power Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project with the aim of restoring services throughout the country and promoting economic recovery. The Power Plant is located in north-western Zimbabwe, and comprises a central component of the Republic of Zimbabwe’s power infrastructure.
Sustainability partnered with local consultants, Black Crystal and Epoch Resources, to complete the project.
Services provided by Sustainability included:
- Identification of non-conformities and recommendation of mitigation measures to facilitate plant compliance with donor policies and applicable national environmental and social legal requirements.
- Identification and development of required documentation, processes and procedures for mitigation and enhancement of current and future expected environmental and social positive and negative impacts from the planned rehabilitation and operation activities.
- Provision of compliance requirements and baseline socio-economic and bio-physical environmental description as a background to the environmental audit.
- Provision of an in-depth review of environmental and social remedies and enhancement associated with the operation of the power plant.
- Review of existing procedures and documentation currently in place at HPS as relevant to environmental and social impact management.
- Development of a Biodiversity Management Plan, and capacity building of local staff to implement it.
