Nauru : Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Connectivity Project (formerly Port Development Project)

Transport / Water transport (non-urban)

Sustainability and quality of life of all Nauruans improved.

Efficiency, reliability, and climate-resilience of Aiwo port improved.

Climate-proofed port infrastructure constructed

Sustainable operations and maintenance achieved

Efficient port operations established

The location of the site and the proposed activities at the existing port will create site-specific, but nevertheless, potential adverse environmental impacts and therefore mitigation measures will need to be designed and implemented. The feasibility study and project preparatory have been carried out through parallel project design advance (PDA) and technical assistance project, and the PDA activities include UXO assessment and geotechnical investigations. These created some environmental impacts and an IEE was prepared covering the pre-construction stage activities. An IEE covering the construction and operation activities has been prepared under the technical assistance project.

Unanticipated environmental impacts, including vibration and noise, were identified on adjacent residential units, inhabitation of which had increased since the environmental assessment was conducted, during the initial stages of construction. The project team established additional mitigation measures to monitor these environmental impacts. The residential buildings adjacent to the construction site are significantly dilapidated, and this status is considered to increase risks associated with potential vibration impacts. ADB requested the government to implement additional mitigation and management measures, including providing additional temporary accommodation for the adjacent residents, where required. ADB has supported the government to ensure that planning and implementation meet Nauru laws and the ADB Safeguard Policy Statement 2009 (SPS).

The existing port is located on land leased through long-term arrangements to the government, the project will not require land acquisition or change in title. A cadastral survey has been undertaken as part of the PDA to confirm land ownership of affected plots, boundaries of plots, and nature of existing and extension (if required) to the leases. The lease agreements have been extended for an indefinite period until the use of the port for public purposes.

On 3 June 2021, the project was recategorized from category C to category A for involuntary resettlement, in compliance with the ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (2009), to permanently relocate affected residents living in the adjacent residential units next to the port construction area. ADB assisted the government in preparing and finalizing the relocation plan (Resettlement Plan), including assessing the social effects. The relocation plan was publicly disclosed through meetings held in Nauru on 12 June 2021. The government has prepared an action plan (Addendums to the Resettlement Plan) to cover the temporary relocation of the residents until the government constructs permanent houses. By 27 November 2021, all residents were relocated to rented houses outside the affected area.

As at April 2023, demolition of vacated buildings on land within the Location areas has been completed in January 2023 although some residential graves remain and will need to be protected and monitored. Overall OH& S on the project is noted as improved for the project and workers' camp.

Six of the 70 houses within the permanent housing program have been delivered with an additional 19 under construction constituting a significant delay. The NMPA continues to support the remaining 64 families who have been placed within temporary accommodation. Completion of this program is a condition of the Resettlement Plan.

A SEAH action plan, SOP, and Codes of Conduct have been developed and adopted by the project.