Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Environmental and Social Management Plan

The development objective of Network Reinforcement and Access Project for Eswatini is to improve the reliability of electricity supply and increase access to electricity services in targeted areas of Eswatini. Some of the negative impacts include: (i) pedestrian and other project related activities may impact on sensitive communities of flora and fauna; (ii) the establishment of the steel monopole structures entails activities that will disrupt surface soils and lead to potential erosion by water and wind impacts especially by the higher slope areas; (iii) hazardous chemicals and other substances and can potentially spill on land and cause a negative impact; (iv) infrastructure establishment may result in water contamination due to lack of sanitary facilities leading to sewage impacts, chemical spills and leakages and improper management of waste water; (v) during project implementation workers will be faced with a number of day to day safety hazards; (vi) it is likely that during construction activities such as vegetation clearing, vehicle movement, site personnel, an increase in noise in the affected areas is experienced; (vii) dust generation during the construction phase is predicted due to the nature of activities; and (viii) possible impacts on archaeological features that may arise during implementation.Some of the mitigation measures include: (i) disturbance of flora will be strictly limited to the servitude and areas of construction; (ii) disturbed area of natural vegetation will be rehabilitated immediately, while excavated holes as soon as possibly backfilled; (iii) machinery using hazardous chemicals must be routinely serviced to minimize leakages; (iv) waste water will be directed into proper systems accordingly; (v) adequate signage will be place at close proximity to project vicinity in order to warn general public about works in progress; (vi) machinery to be used on side is to be serviced regular to minimise noise impacts; (vii) on dirt roads, frequent dust suppression methods will be implemented during the construction phase such as regular water spraying to keep dirt stay put; and (viii) local authority will be informed and such features avoided be work commences.