Energy / Renewable energy generation - solar

The project is classified as category B for environment. The initial environmental and social examination (IESE) identified that the project location is not within or adjacent to any environmentally sensitive areas. It is noted however that the Great Bustard, listed by the IUCN as Vulnerable and Critically Endangered on the Uzbekistan Red List, is a species that could potentially use the airspace in the project's area of influence (AoI). Great Bustards are known to be susceptible to collision with overhead lines however, it is considered that there is a low likelihood that the project's OHTL (approximately 15km) would cause significant impacts on this population, as the OHTL is outside the habitat directly used by bustards. Nevertheless, specific measures will be put in place to reduce potential collision impacts for Great Bustards and to compensate for any that might occur. Further details on these measures will be presented in the project's Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP).

The IESE further identified potentially adverse environmental impacts including but not limited to impacts on surface water, groundwater, visual and landscape, biodiversity, soil quality, noise and air quality, traffic, and community and occupational health and safety. These impacts are considered to be site-specific, few if any of them are irreversible, and in most cases, mitigation measures can be designed readily. The project's environment, health, and safety risks and impacts have been identified and assessed, and appropriate mitigation measures have been developed, as detailed in the IESE.

The Project is classified category B for involuntary resettlement under ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (2009). The project has permanent and temporary land impacts. The Solar PV site area of 562 ha belongs to the government land reserve. The overhead transmission line (OTL) will require the acquisition of 2.54 ha land parcel of farmlands for its towers. The OTL's 15 km right-of-way for the transmission line traverses a mix of farmlands and government land, which are unoccupied and used for community grazing. Temporarily affected areas required during the construction phase include the tower assembly areas adjacent to each tower footprint and an 18m wide right of way along the OTL needed for the suspension of power cables. The sterilization zone includes land 32m meters wide on each side of the transmission line. This zone will not be occupied by the project, and users of this land can continue with their farming activities as long as they abide by safety conditions, such as trees or structures not going over a height of 6m.

The project site will be leased by Masdar under a 30-year term. There are no land leaseholders for the Solar PV site area. As for the OTL, there are seven leaseholder farmers (39 persons) with eight leaseholds, but the land taken is not significant to cause any income loss. The largest permanent and temporary land take is at 0.0055% and 4.88% respectively.

A Social Compliance Audit (SCA) to evaluate the compliance of land acquisition against ADB SR2 and a Livelihood Restoration Plan (LRP) is being prepared by the borrower to address the economic displacement impacts of the project.