World Bank Document · 2016. 7. 8. · PROJECT TEAM . Name Position Qualification and Experience Contribution to Report . Seth A Larmie Environmental Management Expert/Team Leader

GOVERNMENT OF THE GAMBIA

MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE GAMBIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LIMIITED

West Africa Communications Infrastructure

Programme (WARCIP) in The Gambia

ACE Submarine Cable Project

Environmental and Social Impact

Assessment (ESIA)/ Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)

Draft Report

SAL Consult Limited, P O Box GP20200, Accra May 2011

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PROJECT TEAM

Name Position Qualification and Experience Contribution to Report

Seth A Larmie Environmental

Management

Expert/Team Leader

M.Sc. (Applied Science) VUB Brussels

B.Sc. (Chemical Engineering) UST-Kumasi

Quality Assurance, Impact

analysis

Richmond

Yeboah

Amoako

Environmental

Management Expert

MPhil Environmental Science, University of

Ghana

B.Sc (Hons) Chemistry, University of Cape

Coast

Dip Ed University of Cape Coast

Stakeholder consultations,

Review of relevant socio-

economic and environmental

Baseline literature, Analysis of

impacts and alternatives,

drafting of report

Francis K E

Nunoo (Dr)

Oceanographer and

Coastal Zone

Management Expert

Ph.D. Fisheries Science, University of Ghana

M.Phil. Marine Sciences and Coastal

Management, University of Newcastle,

Newcastle upon Tyne

MSc. Tropical Coastal Management, University

of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

BSc. (Hons) Zoology with Botany. University of

Ghana.

Coastal zone management and

marine ecology studies;

Impact analysis on marine

resources; stakeholder

consultations; review of relevant

literature

Olivia Ahlijah

(Mrs) Associate Consultant,

Sociologist

M Phil (Social Anthropology), University of

Oslo, Norway

Stakeholder consultations, Social

studies, Social Impact

Assessment and Resettlement

Plan

Akosua

Agyeiwaa

Opoku-Darko

(Ms)

Assistant Consultant,

Socio-economic

Environment

BSc (Water and Sanitation), University of Cape

Coast

Stakeholder identification and

consultation; Field and baseline

data collection; Literature

reviews

Email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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Table of Contents

LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................... VII

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................................... IX

1.0 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ............................................................................. 2

1.3 SCOPE OF SERVICES ........................................................................................................................................... 3

1.4 APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................................................... 3

1.5 LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................... 4

2.0 POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ................................................................................ 5

2.1 POLICY ON INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY ..................................................................................... 5

2.2 RELEVANT LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................... 5

2.3 INSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK................................................................................................. 7

2.4 PROJECT APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................... 13

2.5 RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTION- WORLD BANK SAFEGUARD POLICIES ........................................................... 13

2.5.1 OP/BP 4.01: Environmental Assessment ................................................................................................ 14

2.5.2 OP/BP 4.12: Involuntary Resettlement .................................................................................................. 14

2.6 INTERNATIONAL LAW AND AGREEMENTS ............................................................................................................. 14

2.6.1 International Maritime Organization..................................................................................................... 14

2.6.2 Legal Boundaries of the Ocean .............................................................................................................. 15

2.6.3 Marine Regulations on Submarine Cables ............................................................................................. 17

3.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................................ 18

3.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................... 18

3.2 PROJECT JUSTIFICATION .................................................................................................................................... 19

3.2.1 Connectivity challenges in The Gambia ................................................................................................. 19

3.2.2 Existing Data Transmission Capacity in West Africa .............................................................................. 20

3.3 BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT ................................................................................................................................ 20

3.3.1 Primary Benefits ..................................................................................................................................... 20

3.3.2 Indirect Benefits ..................................................................................................................................... 21

3.4 PROJECT COMPONENTS .................................................................................................................................... 21

3.4.1 The submarine cable system .................................................................................................................. 22

3.4.2 Description of Marine Operations .......................................................................................................... 23

3.4.3 Proposed Infrastructure Installations .................................................................................................... 28

3.5 PROJECT SCHEDULE ......................................................................................................................................... 31

4.0 ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS .......................................................................................................................... 32

4.1 TECHNOLOGY ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................................................. 32

4.2 ROUTING ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................................................... 33

4.3 CABLE LAYING OPTIONS- BURIAL AND NON-BURIAL ............................................................................................... 33

4.4 CABLE TYPE OPTIONS ....................................................................................................................................... 33

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4.5 LANDING STATION SITE OPTIONS ....................................................................................................................... 34

4.5.1 The Brusubi Phase III Institutional Area ................................................................................................. 35

4.5.2 The BMH Site Behind Lemon Creek Hotel .............................................................................................. 36

4.6 NO PROJECT SCENARIO .................................................................................................................................... 36

5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BASELINE CONDITIONS ......................................................... 37

5.1 LOCATION AND SIZE ......................................................................................................................................... 37

5.1.1 The Cable Location ................................................................................................................................. 38

5.2 THE ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................................................... 39

5.2.1 Climate ................................................................................................................................................... 39

5.2.2 Noise Assessment................................................................................................................................... 45

5.3 THE LAND ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................................................. 46

5.3.1 Relief/Topography ................................................................................................................................. 46

The Valley Bottom ............................................................................................................................................... 46

Dissected plateau with sandy hills ...................................................................................................................... 47

Sandstone Plateau .............................................................................................................................................. 47

5.3.2 Geology and Soils ................................................................................................................................... 47

5.3.3 Biodiversity (flora and Fauna) ................................................................................................................ 47

5.4 OCEANOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................................. 48

5.4.1 General Conditions ................................................................................................................................. 48

5.4.2 Physical Oceanography .......................................................................................................................... 48

5.4.3 Biological Oceanography ....................................................................................................................... 52

5.4.4 Site Specific Oceanographic Information ............................................................................................... 62

5.5 SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................................................... 63

5.5.1 Population .............................................................................................................................................. 63

5.5.2 Educational Attainment ......................................................................................................................... 64

5.5.3 Ethnicity ................................................................................................................................................. 65

5.5.4 Religious Affiliation ................................................................................................................................ 65

5.5.5 Economic Activities ................................................................................................................................ 65

5.5.6 Average Monthly Income ....................................................................................................................... 66

5.5.7 Profile of Project Affected Persons (PAPs) ............................................................................................. 67

6.0 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS, DISCLOSURE AND GRIEVANCE MANAGEMENT .................................... 69

6.1 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS ......................................................................................................................... 69

6.1.1 Objectives of Stakeholder Consultations ................................................................................................ 69

6.2 STAKEHOLDER IDENTIFICATION AND DISCUSSIONS ................................................................................................. 69

6.3 DISCLOSURE OF THE ESIA/ ESMP ...................................................................................................................... 74

6.4 GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM ..................................................................................................................... 74

7.0 POTENTIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................... 76

7.1 DETERMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL/SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACTS ................................................................. 76

7.2 CATEGORIES OF IMPACT SIGNIFICANCE ................................................................................................................ 76

7.3 CONSTRUCTION PHASE ADVERSE IMPACTS/ ISSUES ................................................................................................ 77

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7.3.1 Potential Adverse Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................................... 77

7.3.2 Potential Adverse Social Impacts/ Issues ............................................................................................... 80

7.4 OPERATION PHASE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL/SOCIAL IMPACTS ............................................................................. 81

7.4.1 Landing Station ...................................................................................................................................... 81

7.4.2 Submarine Cable .................................................................................................................................... 82

8.0 RECOMMENDED MITIGATION MEASURES FOR ADVERSE IMPACTS ......................................................... 83

8.1 MITIGATION MEASURES FOR CONSTRUCTION PHASE IMPACTS ................................................................................. 84

8.1.1 Mitigating Potential Environmental Impacts /Concerns ........................................................................ 84

8.1.2 Mitigating Potential Social Impacts/ Concerns ...................................................................................... 87

8.2 MITIGATION MEASURES FOR OPERATIONAL PHASE IMPACTS ................................................................................... 88

8.2.1 Minimizing Air Pollution and Noise Nuisance ........................................................................................ 88

8.2.2 Minimizing Water Pollution and indiscriminate disposal of waste ........................................................ 89

8.2.3 Security risk ............................................................................................................................................ 89

8.2.4 Managing Occupational Health and Safety Risks .................................................................................. 89

8.2.5 Emergencies ........................................................................................................................................... 89

9.0 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ACTION PLANS AND PROGRAMMES....................................................... 90

9.1 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY .................................................................................................................................. 90

9.2 HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY ............................................................................................................................. 91

9.3 RESPONSIBILITIES ............................................................................................................................................ 91

9.3.1 Role of GAMTEL/PIU .............................................................................................................................. 91

9.3.2 Appointment of an Environmental and Safety Coordinator (ESC) ......................................................... 91

9.3.3 Contractor’s Role ................................................................................................................................... 92

9.4 CONTRACTOR SPECIFIC ACTION PLANS ................................................................................................................ 92

9.5 AWARENESS CREATION AND TRAINING ................................................................................................................ 93

9.5.1 During construction phase ..................................................................................................................... 93

9.5.2 During Operation Phase ......................................................................................................................... 93

9.6 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION/INVOLVEMENT ................................................................................................................ 94

9.7 MONITORING PROGRAMME .............................................................................................................................. 94

9.8 REPORTING .................................................................................................................................................... 94

9.9 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLAN ................................................................................................ 95

9.9.1 Responsibilities....................................................................................................................................... 95

9.9.2 Notification ............................................................................................................................................ 95

9.9.3 Fire/emergency preparedness ............................................................................................................... 95

9.9.4 Fire Response Actions ............................................................................................................................ 96

9.9.5 General Evacuation Procedures ............................................................................................................. 97

9.10 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ACTION PLANS ...................................................................................................... 97

9.11 UNCERTAINTY AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT......................................................................................................... 97

10.0 INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY FOR ESMP IMPLEMENTATION...................................................................... 105

10.1 INSTRUCTIONAL COLLABORATION ..................................................................................................................... 105

10.1.1 GAMTEL/PIU .................................................................................................................................... 105

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10.1.2 NEA .................................................................................................................................................. 105

10.1.3 GPA .................................................................................................................................................. 105

10.2 CAPACITY BUILDING REQUIREMENT .................................................................................................................. 106

11.0 DECOMMISSIONING .............................................................................................................................. 107

11.1 WORK CAMP FACILITIES ................................................................................................................................. 107

11.2 CABLE LANDING STATION AND OTHER FACILITIES ................................................................................................ 107

11.3 SUBMARINE CABLE ........................................................................................................................................ 107

12.0 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................... 108

13.0 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................................... 109

ANNEXES ........................................................................................................................................................... 110

LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1: PROJECT APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................................................... 13 TABLE 2 COMPARING STUDY OF THE ADVANTAGES OF BURYING CABLES AND LAYING DIRECTLY ON SEABED ...................................................... 33 TABLE 3 SUBMARINE TELECOMMUNICATION CABLE TYPES ..................................................................................................................... 34 TABLE 4: STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF RAINFALL FOR THE PERIOD 1981 - 2010 ............................................................................................ 41 TABLE 5: STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF TEMPERATURE DATA FOR THE PERIOD 1981 - 2010 ............................................................................. 42 TABLE 6STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF MEAN RELATIVE HUMIDITY DATA FOR THE PERIOD 1981 - 2010 ..................................................................... 43 TABLE 7: STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF WIND SPEED DATA FOR THE PERIOD 1981 - 2010 ............................................................................... 44 TABLE 8: STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF SUNSHINE DATAL FOR THE PERIOD 1981 - 2010 ................................................................................. 44 TABLE 9 RESULTS OF NOISE LEVEL ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................................................. 46 TABLE 10: SEDIMENT TRANSPORT BY LOCAL STREAMS ............................................................................................................................. 50 TABLE 11: UPDATED CETACEAN SPECIES CHECK LIST FOR THE GAMBIA (FROM WAFCET 2) ................................................................................. 54 TABLE 12: LIST OF SPECIES CAUGHT IN BEACH SEINE GEAR AT BIJILO BEACH ................................................................................................ 58 TABLE 13: SUMMARY OF STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS ......................................................................................................................... 70 TABLE 14: GRIEVANCE REDRESS MANAGEMENT ..................................................................................................................................... 75 TABLE 15: POTENTIAL ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS/ ISSUES ........................................................................................................... 77 TABLE 16 POTENTIAL ADVERSE SOCIAL IMPACTS/ ISSUES ........................................................................................................................ 80 TABLE 17: MITIGATION MEASURES FOR POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE .................................................. 84 TABLE 18: MITIGATION MEASURES FOR POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE .................................................. 87 TABLE 19 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN ........................................................................................................................................... 98 TABLE 20 SOCIAL ACTION PLAN ....................................................................................................................................................... 102

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1 LEGAL BOUNDARIES OF THE OCEAN FROM TERRITORIAL SEA TO EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE AND ONTO THE HIGH SEAS (FIGURES IN PARENTHESIS REFER TO TREATY ARTICLES) ......................................................................................................................................... 16

FIGURE 2: PROPOSED ACE SUBMARINE CABLE CONFIGURATION SHOWING THE LANDING POINTS ..................................................................... 18 FIGURE 3: ACE CABLE ROUTE FROM THE BMH TO THE CLS ..................................................................................................................... 21 FIGURE 4: TYPICAL SUBMARINE CABLE SYSTEM ...................................................................................................................................... 22 FIGURE 5: ILLUSTRATION OF CABLE DESIGN AND TYPES ............................................................................................................................ 23 FIGURE 6: EXAMPLES OF MARINE PLOUGHS .......................................................................................................................................... 26 FIGURE 7: PLAN OF THE SABLE STATION ............................................................................................................................................... 29 FIGURE 8: BLOCK PLAN OF THE CLS .................................................................................................................................................... 30 FIGURE 9: COMPARISON BETWEEN CABLES AND SATELLITES ..................................................................................................................... 32

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FIGURE 10: THE LOCATION OF THE BMH AND CLS ............................................................................................................................. 35 FIGURE 11: MAP OF THE GAMBIA ................................................................................................................................................... 37 FIGURE 12: ADMINISTRATIVE MAP OF THE GAMBIA ............................................................................................................................ 38 FIGURE 13: THE TERRESTRIAL CABLE ROUTE ...................................................................................................................................... 39 FIGURE 14: GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF MEAN MONTHLY RAINFALL .................................................................................................... 41 FIGURE 15: GRAPHICAL ILLUSTRATION OF DAYTIME TEMPERATURE ......................................................................................................... 42 FIGURE 16: GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF NIGHT-TIME TEMPERATURE.................................................................................................... 43 FIGURE 17: GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF MEAN RELATIVE HUMIDITY DATA ............................................................................................ 44 FIGURE 18: GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF WIND SPEED ....................................................................................................................... 44 FIGURE 19: GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF SUNSHINE DURATION DATA ................................................................................................... 45

LIST OF PLATES

PLATE 1 (A & B): THE CLS SITE AT BRUSUBI PHASE III INSTITUTIONAL AREA ................................................................................................ 35 PLATE 2: THE LEMON CREEK HOTEL AT BIJILO BEACH WITH PROPOSED BMH SITE INDICATED WITH RED ARROW ............................................... 36 PLATE 3: UPPER SHORE OF BEACH WITH TYPICAL COASTAL SHRUBS AND GRASSES ....................................................................................... 62 PLATE 4: GENTLY SLOPING BEACH WITH SHOREBIRDS AT THE EDGE OF THE SEA ........................................................................................... 62 PLATE 5: SHORE BIRDS ENJOYING SMALL WASTEWATER LAGOON AT THE BEACH ......................................................................................... 62

LIST OF ANNEXES

ANNEX 1: COMMUNICATIONS WITH NEA ON PROPOSED ACE SUBMARINE CABLE PROJECT

ANNEX 2: CLS SITE DOCUMENTATION PAPERS

ANNEX 3: CLIMATIC DATA

file:///G:/gamtel-ace%20eia%20report.docx%23_Toc292710709file:///G:/gamtel-ace%20eia%20report.docx%23_Toc292710710file:///G:/gamtel-ace%20eia%20report.docx%23_Toc292710711file:///G:/gamtel-ace%20eia%20report.docx%23_Toc292710712file:///G:/gamtel-ace%20eia%20report.docx%23_Toc292710713

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LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

ACE African Coast to Europe

ARAP Abbreviated Resettlement Action Plan

BMH Beach Manhole

BPEO Best Practicable Environmental Option

BU Branching Unit

CLS Cable Landing Station

EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone

EIA Environmental Impact Assessment

ESIA Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

EMSP Environmental and Social Management Plan

GAMTEL Gambia Telecommunications Company

GOTG Government of The Gambia

ICT Information and Communication Technology

IFC International Finance Corporation

IMO International Maritime Organisation

IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Natural Resources

LGA Local Government Area

MFEA Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs

MOICI Ministry of Information and Communications Infrastructure

MOP Ministry of Petroleum

MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships

NGOs Nongovernmental Organisations

nmi Nautical mile

NEA National Environment Agency

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NEMA National Environmental Management Act

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NRA National Roads Authority

ODS Ozone Depleting Substances

OP Operating Policy

PAPs Project Affected Persons

PCR Physical Cultural Resources

PIU Project Implementation Unit

RAP Resettlement Action Plan

RP Resettlement Plan

SOLAS International Convention for the Safety of life at Sea

UNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

TANGO The Association of Non-Governmental Organisations

WARCIP West African Regional Communications Infrastructure Program

WB World Bank

WSIS World Summit on the Information Society

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Project Benefits

The Government of The Gambia is part of a new submarine cable system which forms part of the

West Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Program being funded by the World Bank.

The Project will have direct benefits through increase in available international transmission

capacity and lower cost for such access. For existing businesses, increased capacity and lower

cost will allow for faster and more reliable transmission for data and voice. Lower entry costs will

also facilitate expansion of existing businesses and start-up of new businesses. It could also

facilitate increased business cooperation between the consortium countries.

Other indirect social and economic benefits would be associated with the proposed development

and these include:

improved educational opportunities through increase in access to information and education resources;

development of a regional sense of community through greater equality of information sharing across geographical regions and across groups in society;

economic benefits from the enhanced opportunities for new and small enterprises that may have previously been excluded from technologies by high costs; and

macroeconomic benefits of the potential expansion of technology-reliant industries in West Africa, such as information technology services and software development businesses.

Purpose of the ESIA/ ESMP

The purpose of the ESIA/ ESMP is to provide guidance to the submarine cable-laying and

construction contractors, and to the operators of the facilities, on the measures and actions to be

taken during implementation and operation of the facilities to eliminate, mitigate, or offset

significant adverse environmental and social impacts, or to reduce them to acceptable levels.

Project Components and Locations

The main components of the project will comprise of a deep sea cable in the international waters

from France to The Gambia; a connecting cable from the submarine or deep sea cable to the

shores of The Gambia at Bijilo near Banjul; and a BMH and CLS.

The proposed site for the CLS is in the Brusubi Phase III area about 3km from the Bijilo beach

where the BMH will be constructed near the Lemon Creek Hotel. The approximate coordinate of

the CLS site is N13o24.785’ and W16o43.126’ and currently fallow while the approximate

coordinates of the BMH site is N13o25.205’ and W16o44.242’. There are no permanent structures

on the cable route, however about 27no identified PAPs and their properties will be impacted by

way of disturbance to their operations or access to their homes. The Kombo Coastal Highway will

also be crossed.

Overview of project phase activities

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The major activities under Construction Phase include pre-installation and installation activities;

while the major activities under Operation Phase include repair/recovery activities. Pre-

installation activities will include a detailed cable route survey to investigate the safest possible

environment for the cable and prepare for its installation as well as engineering design and

fabrication of the subsea equipment. Installation involves laying of cables on or under seabed

along the route determined by the pre-installation survey.

Cable repair and maintenance is required as a result of damage, failure, age /redundancy or

clearance of congested routes. As cables reach the end of their design life or become redundant

due to technological advances, their removal from the seabed or decommissioning may be

considered.

Relevant Legal and Regulatory Framework

The relevant regulatory frameworks include:

Constitution of the Republic of the Gambia, 1997; National Environment Management Act (NEMA), 1994; Environmental Quality Standards Regulations, 1999; Wildlife Conservation Act, 1977; Fisheries Act 2007; and Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Act, 2001; International Maritime Organization conventions; and World Bank safeguards policies.

Stakeholder consultations, disclosure and grievance management

Extensive consultations were held with relevant stakeholder as part of the preparation of the

ESIA/ ESMP. Key stakeholders contacted include Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs,

Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure, GAMTEL), Ministry of Petroleum/

Gambia National Petroleum Corporation, National Environmental Agency, Gambia Ports

Authority, Gambia Bureau of Statistics, National Roads Authority, Department of Lands and

Surveys, Department of Physical Planning and Housing, Geological Department and The

Association of Non-Governmental Organisations among others.

As part of its procedures, NEA was furnished with a completed EIA Form by GAMTEL, and the NEA

has formally given the environmental approval for the project based on their assessment. The

NEA will also assist in the review and implementation of this ESIA/ ESMP document.

Potential Impacts and Recommended Mitigation Measures

The identified potential impacts and the recommended mitigation measures are provided in the

tables below for both construction and operation phases of project development. Most of the

concerns and impacts will occur during the construction phase, and adequate environmental and

safety care is required during this period. During the operational phase there will be no routine

maintenance of the cable and will not have much significant adverse impact on the bio-physical

and social environment except during cable repairs and recovery.

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Mitigating Potential Environmental Impacts /Concerns during the Construction Phase

Impact issues Description of mitigation measures

Construction of Landing Station Facilities

Waste disposal Solid waste

Adequate waste reception facilities should be provided at the project sites/camp sites Final disposal should be at dump sites approved by the LGA Waste oil /fuel

Spent or waste oil from vehicles and equipment should be collected and temporarily stored in drums or containers at site

Waste oil should be disposed off by oil marketing companies or agents approved or recognized and have the capacity to undertake oil disposal

Human waste/liquid waste

Toilet facilities should be provided at or near the site for use by construction workers It should be a policy that free-range defecation is prohibited and offenders could be

suspended

Vehicles, trucks and construction equipment should not be washed on site or at the beach Air pollution The Project should require that construction contractors operate only well maintained

engines, vehicles, trucks and equipment. A routine maintenance program for all

equipment, vehicles, trucks and power generating engines should be in place.

The project should ensure the use of good quality fuel and lubricants only If dust generation at the project/construction site becomes a problem, limited wetting of

batching plant site and or unloading and reloading points should be done to reduce dust

raising

Construction traffic speed control measures should be enforced on unpaved roads (speed limits through communities should be ≤50km/hr on unpaved or untarred roads and near

or at project site should be ≤30 km/hr).

Engines of vehicles/trucks and earth-moving equipment should be switched off when not in use.

Noise and vibration The Project should require contractors to use equipment and vehicles that are in good working order, well maintained, and that have some noise suppression equipment (e.g.

mufflers, noise baffles) intact and in working order. This will be achieved by making it a

component of contractual agreements with the construction contractors.

Contractors will be required to implement best driving practices when approaching and leaving the site (speed limit of ≤30 km/hr) to minimize noise generation created through

activities such as unnecessary acceleration and breaking squeal.

Engines of vehicles/trucks and earth-moving equipment should be switched off when not in use.

Impacts on Landscape

and Visual Receptors

The CLS should be boarded off from public view during construction Good house-keeping at construction sites should be ensured

Impact on traffic Only road worthy vehicles and trucks should be used to avoid frequent breakdowns on the roads

Only experienced drivers should be employed Water pollution No garbage/refuse, oily wastes, fuels/waste oils should be discharged into drains or

shores/beach or onto site grounds

Fuel storage tanks/sites should be properly secured to contain any spillage

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Maintenance and cleaning of vehicles, trucks and equipment should take place offsite in view of the proximity of the landing sites to the marine environment.

Toilet facilities should be provided for construction workers to avoid indiscriminate defecation in nearby bush or shores

Impact on fauna and

habitat

Security lighting should be aimed at the project site and not extended to the beach area to avoid impacts on sensitive fauna. Spillage of illumination outside the direct work area

should be avoided.

Submarine Cable Activities

Air/ Noise pollution The Project should require that marine vessels/ equipment are well maintained and have a

routine maintenance program in place.

Impact on seabed

geology

The cable route design should avoid areas of potential geological sensitivity such as ocean

trenches, bedrock outcrops etc. Detailed pre-installation surveys should be carried out and

should identify potential geological sensitive areas and subsequently avoided by the detailed

cable route design.

Impacts on Marine

Fauna/habitat

The Project should require that marine vessels implement a hazardous materials management plan that includes specification for proper storage and handling of fuels, oil,

wastes, and other potentially hazardous materials as well as a plan for containment and

cleanup of accidental spills into marine environment.

During pre-installation and installation, spotting of marine mammals and turtles should form part of the project work while at sea. Should these species be observed in the

vicinity of the work area, the vessels should execute measures to avoid destruction or

disturbance. Vessel operators should maintain a distance of at least 100m and should

travel at 10 knots or less if safety permits until animals are more than 500 m away. Abrupt

changes in direction should be avoided.

Vessel crews must report sightings of any injured or dead marine mammals and sea turtles immediately, regardless of whether the injury or death is caused by a Project

vessel. The report should include the date and location of the animal/strike, and the

species identification or a description of the animal. The report should be made to

GAMTEL to be forwarded to NEA and other interested organisations.

The Project workforce and local communities should be educated to ensure that the importance of environmental protection and nature conservation are effectively

communicated and that wider appreciation of environmental issues and construction best

practice are fostered.

Impacts on marine

traffic

Cable routes should avoid major ports, fish landing sites and shipping routes The Project should notify the Maritime Administration (GPA) of the submarine activities,

so that vessels in the area would be warned in advance of the ongoing operations through

a ‘Notice to Mariners’ report transmitted daily as well as potential dangers posed by and

to other vessels when working in areas of higher traffic.

Impact on marine

water quality /coastal

processes

The Project should require that marine vessels implement a hazardous materials management plan that includes specification for proper storage and handling of fuels, oil,

wastes, and other potentially hazardous materials as well as a plan for containment and

cleanup of accidental spills into the marine environment.

Marine vessels will be required to adhere to International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations on bilge and ballast water discharge.

Areas of nearshore environment that are disturbed during installation activities (such as trench digging) should be rehabilitated as soon as possible after the cable has been

installed.

All rehabilitated areas should be surveyed on weekly basis for the first month after rehabilitation, and a monthly basis for the subsequent five months, to monitor levels of

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EIA Study – WARCIP: Submarine Cable Infrastructure Project in the Gambia Page xiii Draft Report. May 2011

coastal erosion in the vicinity of the development. If observations indicate that significant

erosion and sediment transport is taking place (i.e. that rehabilitation has been

unsuccessful) additional mitigation should be employed to reduce erosion.

Marine vessel anchors will not be dragged along the seabed and they will be retrieved vertically to avoid unnecessary sediment disturbance.

The maximum speed of the cable laying should not exceed 6 knots per hour so that the amount of seabed sediment disturbed and dispersed during the cable laying process can

be kept to a minimum.

No waste oils, solid wastes, oily wastes as well as garbage will be discharged into sea. Marine vessels in consultation with the GPA will comply fully with the requirements of the

MARPOL Protocol.

Mitigating Potential Social Impacts/ Concerns during the Construction Phase

Type of impact Description of mitigation measures

Construction of lCLS and BMH Facilities

Physical displacement

and loss of livelihood

No PAP will be displaced. Mostly, they will be disturbed and a Resettlement Plan has been

prepared as part of this study to cater for any loss livelihoods

Local employment Contractors should use local labour as much as possible and where available. As much as

possible, all unskilled labour should be contracted or obtained from the local community.

GAMWORKS, a local unit that recruits contractors for projects in The Gambia is involved in

the project to ensure local participation.

Deprivation of use of

land

No issues to be encountered

Loss of structures/

properties

No issues to be encountered

Impacts on recreation

Appropriate notices and warning signs will be erected around working areas of beach or

shore areas to warn prospective trespassers of any danger or risk

Impacts on Human

Health/ Safety and

sanitation

There will be restricted access to the construction site. Security check point will be mounted at the entrance and exit to the site.

The construction site will be boarded off to prevent intruders and easy access by the public especially from the beach end. The retaining wall is short and can easily be

climbed over.

All construction workers will be provided with ID cards Trucks carrying construction materials such as sand, quarry dust, laterite etc will have

the buckets covered with tarpaulin or appropriate polythene material from or to project

site

Only road worthy vehicles/trucks will be used Only experienced drivers/operators will be engaged Except for areas secured by fencing, all active construction areas will be marked with

high-visibility tape to reduce the risk of accidents.

All open trenches onshore and excavated areas will be backfilled after works have been completed.

Adequate sanitary facilities will be available for workers and open range defecation will

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EIA Study – WARCIP: Submarine Cable Infrastructure Project in the Gambia Page xiv Draft Report. May 2011

not be countenanced.

Construction workers will be provided with and educated to wear suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including hard hats, overalls, high-visibility vests, safety

boots, earplugs, gloves etc.

Every construction worker engaged will have an induction briefing on adherence to basic rules on occupational health and safety, environmental protection, public safety

and work ethics, including most importantly hygiene and disease (HIV) prevention.

Submarine cable activities

Impacts on artisanal

fishing

GAMTEL/PIU will notify local fishermen /local communities early of the marine activities or programme for the area.

Artisanal fishing activities will not be stopped because of the project but the fishermen will be advised or educated to move away from the proposed cable route corridor.

Impacts on cultural

heritage/archaeological

interest /existing marine

infrastructure and

services

Should the pre-installation/marine surveys identify wrecks or marine cultural heritage resource or marine infrastructure such as pipelines or cable routes, the cable route

design will avoid and by-pass these resources.

The project will adopt and implement a chance find procedure and reporting system to enable contractors report on any cultural heritage feature or marine infrastructure

encountered.

Impacts on Human

Health and Safety

The Project will require all contractors to implement an Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) plan which will outline procedures for avoiding health and safety incidents

and for emergency medical treatment. This will be achieved by making it a component

of contractual agreement.

All workers on board a cable vessel will be required to wear suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including hard hats, high-visibility vests, safety boots and gloves and

life vests as appropriate.

All construction and cable repair workers will be sufficiently trained in the safe methods of working with fiber optic cables to avoid injury associated with laser lights and fibers.

Vessels will increase watch when navigating in areas that are known to be used by fishermen and other vessels. If other vessels are observed within the near vicinity, the

Project vessel will stop moving, make contact with the other vessel if possible, and wait

until it has been confirmed that the course of both vessels will not result in collision or

damage to equipment.

While a vessel is laying cable its manoeuvrability is restricted, as such it will display the day signals and lights of a hampered vessel to avoid collision with other vessels at sea.

Mitigation Measures for Operational Phase Impacts

Standby generators will be kept in proper housing or cage in order to localise noise generated

from these equipment. Routine maintenance regime of engines, generators and equipment will

be instituted to reduce incidence of smoke/fume and noise generation.

A permanent fence wall will be constructed around the CLS facility with a 24-hour security at the

premises. The premises will have CCT surveillance monitoring system for effective security

monitoring.

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EIA Study – WARCIP: Submarine Cable Infrastructure Project in the Gambia Page xv Draft Report. May 2011

The facility will be installed with smoke detectors, and fire alarms. Fire extinguishers will be

positioned at all strategic areas and fire hydrants will be provided. An emergency assembly point

will be created. Directions for exit within the facility will be provided and well labelled.

Workers will be provided with adequate and appropriate personal protective equipment. Workers

will not be exposed to the direct fibre optic laser light which can affect their vision or eye sight.

GAMTEL/PIU will enter into a standby agreement with the submarine cable contractors to

undertake cable repairs as and when required. An emergency preparedness and response plan

will be developed and implemented.

ESIA/ ESMP Implementation

It is the policy of GAMTEL/PIU to establish and maintain high standards of occupational health,

safety and environmental protection at work, so as to prevent personal injury or illness, property

damage, fires, security losses and environmental pollution. The contractors will appoint an

Environmental and Safety Supervisor, while the Project will have an Environmental and Safety

Coordinator to oversee the implementation of the ESIA/ ESMP. Appropriate programmes to

ensue the implementation of the ESIA/ ESMP have been developed and these cover:

Awareness creation and training; Public participation/Involvement; Contractor specific action plans; Monitoring; Uncertainty and change management; Reporting; and Emergency preparedness and response plan.

Capacity Building

The capacity building requirements will be in the form of a training workshop on the ESMP,

MARPOL Conventions, the World Bank safeguard policies of OP 4.12 and OP 4.01 for the following

key stakeholders: GAMTEL/PIU; NEA; GPA and Project consultants/contractors.

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EIA Study – WARCIP: Submarine Cable Infrastructure Project in the Gambia Page 1 Draft Report. May 2011

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Project Background

Africa is set to receive a significant broadband boost with France Telecom (FT) signing a

construction agreement with Alcatel-Lucent for the new Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine

communications cable. The ACE submarine communications cable is a planned cable system

along the west coast of Africa between France and South Africa. This will be about 17,000km

fibre-optic link connecting the countries along the western coast of Africa especially the West

African countries to the global broadband network. The ACE consortium is a newly formed

group comprising of about 20 telecom operators.

The Republic of The Gambia has recently signed the consortium agreement to be part of the ACE

Submarine Cable to be financed by the World Bank. This support forms part of the West Africa

Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (WARCIP) being executed by the World Bank.

The WARCIP aims to contribute to lowering the cost and improving quality of regional and

international connectivity by facilitating:

the connection of all countries in West Africa to global broadband fiber optics infrastructure; and

the creation of a coordinated regional and national transmission network which would ensure that all countries in West Africa are able to connect effectively within and between

national borders.

The World Bank’s environmental and social safeguards policies require that the recipient

country prepare an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Report/ Environmental

and Social Management Plan (ESMP), which is consistent with national laws, any applicable

treaty concerning international waters, and OP 4.01 and a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for

the lateral cables and any associated equipment that will be laid from the Branching Unit (BU) at

the junction with the main cable through territorial waters and onto the national shores and on

land.

The ACE submarine cable is going to be deployed over 17,000 km and will provide access to

more than 20 countries starting in 2012. With a planned capacity of about 5.12 Tbit/s, the ACE

submarine cable system will provide sufficient and redundancy capacity for the future country

needs.

This ACE Connectivity Project entails laying a lateral submarine cable to connect with the ACE

submarine cable which will be laid off the coast of France to the coast of The Gambia and

construction of a Beach Manhole (BMH) at Bijilo beach, and Cable Landing Station (CLS) at

Brusubi area. The installation of the lateral connecting cable requires laying the submarine

cable on the sea bed of The Gambia’s EEZ and territorial waters, then burying the cable in the

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_communications_cablehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa

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nearshore zone and across the beach before arriving at the CLS, which will be constructed as

part of the project.

In compliance with the National Environment Management Act, 1994, the proposed project has

been registered with the National Environment Agency (NEA) to obtain an environmental permit

for implementing the project. The communications with the NEA on the proposed project are

presented in Annex 1.

SAL Consult Limited, a Ghanaian registered multidisciplinary water and environmental

consultancy firm based in Accra, Ghana was contracted to prepare the ESIA/ ESMP and the RAP

for the Project by the Government of The Gambia (GOTG) acting through the Project

Implementation Unit (PIU) of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MOFEA) on behalf of

the Ministry of Information and Communications Infrastructure (MOICI) and the implementing

agency, Gambia Telecommunications Corporation (GAMTEL). The RAP component of the ESIA/

ESMP has been prepared as a separate stand-alone document to provide guidance in the event

that land needs to be acquired and people need to be resettled or compensated in accordance

with OP 4.12.

1.2 Purpose and Objectives of the Environmental Assessment

The purpose of the ESMP is to provide guidance to cable-laying and construction contractors,

and to the operators of the facilities, on the measures and actions to be taken during

implementation and operation of the facilities to eliminate, mitigate, or offset significant

adverse environmental and social impacts, or to reduce them to acceptable levels.

The objective of the environmental assessment (EA) is to assist the PIU of GOTG to obtain the

necessary Environmental Approvals for the development of the Project at the proposed sites at

Bijilo and Brusubi which are within the jurisdiction of the Western Region and in the Kombo

North District, the Local Government Authority (LGA).

This ESMP aims to bring the Project into compliance with the World Bank safeguard policies as

well as The Republic of Gambia’s Environmental Assessment Procedures to improve decision

making in order to ensure environmental and social sustainability in line with the Bank’s policies

and guidelines. The ESIA/ ESMP also seek to obtain the necessary environmental permit from

the NEA for the execution of the project in compliance with statutory provisions under the

NEMA 1994.

The specific objectives of the EA study are to:

Identify significant adverse environmental and social impacts, conflicts and concerns likely to arise as a result of the implementation of the project;

outline mitigating/enhancing, monitoring, consultative and institutional measures for managing adverse environmental and social impacts or to enhance the programme

beneficial impacts; and

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address capacity building requirements needed to strengthen key institutional stakeholders as well as affected local groups or communities’ environmental and social capacities; and

document all findings and recommendations in an ESIA/ ESMP Report to guide project execution.

1.3 Scope of Services

The scope of work includes:

Description of the existing bio-physical and socio-economic and cultural environment with emphasis on the project area of influence and /or marine protected areas;

Legislative and regulatory considerations including national, international and World Bank requirements;

Identification of the potential direct, induced and cumulative impacts; Analysis of alternatives; Provision of mitigation and management measures for negative impacts identified; Institutional capacities to address adverse impacts; and Development of an environmental and social management plan.

1.4 Approach and Methodology

The approach and methodology adopted for the study included:

Desk studies; Site visits; Consultations; Data analysis; and Report preparation.

Desk Studies

Documents relevant to the proposed project were reviewed to help predict, identify and

evaluate the potential impacts of the project. These documents include;

project documents including information obtained on the internet; and Environmental Assessment Reports on similar projects.

Site Visits

The project site was visited to confirm baseline environmental and socio-economic conditions

that would be affected or likely to develop from the implementation of the proposed project.

Consultations

Stakeholder participation during project planning, design and implementation has now become

widely recognised as an integral part of environmental and social impact assessment. In this

regard, various stakeholders were consulted for their views, concerns or interests in the

proposed project and these include:

Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MOFEA);

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Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure (MOICI) Gambian Telecommunications Company Limited (GAMTEL); National Environmental Agency (NEA); Gambia Ports Authority (GPA); Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS); Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC; National Roads Authority (NRA); National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC); Department of Lands and Surveys; Department of Physical Planning and Housing; Geological Department; The Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (TANGO); and Gambia Tourism Authority.

Information obtained from the consultation process was used to confirm or otherwise the

information obtained from the desk study or observations made from the field inspections.

Data Analysis and Reporting

Data obtained from both field and desk studies was analysed and a report prepared accordingly.

Major headings making the report comprise:

a) Introduction; b) Policy, Legal and Institutional Framework; c) Description of the Proposed Development; d) Alternative Analysis; e) Baseline Environmental Conditions; f) Assessment of Potential Environmental Impacts; g) Mitigating and Enhancement Measures; h) Environmental Monitoring Plan; i) Provisional Environmental Management Plan; j) Conclusion; k) Bibliography; l) Annexes.

1.5 Legal Framework for Project Development

The relevant regulatory framework that will guide the proponent throughout the construction

and operation and or decommissioning of the project include the following:

Constitution of the Republic of the Gambia, 1997; National Environment Management Act (NEMA), 1994; Environmental Quality Standards Regulations, 1999; Wildlife Conservation Act, 1977; Fisheries Act 2007; and Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Act, 2001.

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2.0 POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK

2.1 Policy on Information Communications Technology

In 2002 the MOICI was created to coordinate the prolific growth in the Information

Communications Technology (ICT) Industry and was charged to:

develop policies and the regulatory framework to facilitate orderly growth in the communications industry;

manage telecommunication resources including the radio spectrum; and to coordinate and support the numerous sectoral information and communication

technology initiatives at the public sector level.

As part of efforts by GOTG to implement some aspects of the World Summit of Information

Society (WSIS) principles and the Africa Information Society Initiatives (AISI) for an informed

society, the MOICI has concretised on-going and future ICT initiatives into a coherent and robust

national ICT-led policy and plan, the National Information and Communications Initiative (NICI)

for socioeconomic development including:

infrastructure development initiatives; and institutional mechanisms/ structures implementation.

The NICI as an e-Strategy Plan is a mechanism to implement the vision of AISI at the national

level. As AISI focuses its vision on ICT Development in Africa, the NICI contains a guiding

framework for ICT program planning, project development and implementation which are

consistent with its vision and mission statements. It has a series of sector applications defined

according to Africa 's priorities.

The NICI Plan and Policies development process in The Gambia is geared towards recognizing

the areas where ICT would contribute to the attainment of the overall objective of the Vision

2020 and the four strategic issues identified in the PRSP:

Enhancing the productive capacity of the poor; Enhancing access to and the performance of social services; Local level capacity building; and Promoting participatory communications process.

2.2 Relevant Legal and Regulatory Framework

The relevant national regulatory framework to guide the project implementation include the

following:

Constitution of the Republic of the Gambia, 1997; The Vision 2020; National Environment Management Act (NEMA), 1994; Environmental Quality Standards Regulations, 1999;

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Wildlife Conservation Act, 1977; Fisheries Act 2007; and Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Act, 2001.

The Constitution of The Gambia, 1997

The Constitution includes some provisions to protect the right of individuals to private property

or protection from deprivation of property. It also sets principles under which citizens may be

deprived of their property compulsorily in the public interest as described in Section 22 of the

Constitution. It also makes provision for the prompt payment of adequate compensation and

access to the court or other impartial and independent authority for the determination of the

land owner’s interest or right, and the amount of any compensation to which he is entitled and

for the purpose of obtaining prompt payment of that compensation.

The Vision 2020

The GOTG has recently introduced the multi-year Vision 2020 development programme in which

it commits itself to conserve and promote the rational use of the country’s natural resources

and environment for the benefit of present and future generations in a manner that is

consistent with the overall goal of sustainable development. At the core of Vision 2020 is the

recognition that accelerated economic growth will require increased investment and

exploitation of the country’s natural resources. However, sustained growth will also require

successful incorporation of new technologies that are environmentally sound to increase

productivity, particularly among resource based establishments.

National Environment Management Act (NEMA), 1994

The NEMA, 1994 is the framework law that established the National Environment Agency (NEA)

as a frontline agency to manage the implementation of the Gambia Environmental Action Plan

(GEAP) in 1994. This was made possible following the Banjul Declaration of 1977 as the first

policy instrument to focus on the need for environmental conservation in The Gambia and

subsequently, the creation of the Environment Unit in 1981 under the Ministry of Natural

Resources to advise it on matters related to the environment and culminating in the formulation

of GEAP in 1992.

The ultimate goal of the NEA is to achieve the essential policy objectives of the Gambia

Environmental Action Plan as indicated below.

To make sure that the economic and social development of The Gambia is done in an environmentally sustainable manner.

To develop and maintain a National Environmental Planning Framework for the Gambia. To have a Legal recognition of the fundamental right to a sound environment, ensuring the

health and well-being of all those living in the Gambia.

To educate about the environment, increasing environmental awareness and empowering communities to take action to identify and solve environmental problems.

To provide reliable and relevant information for sound environmental management. To conserve and promote the sound and rational use of natural resources.

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The NEA is governed by the National Environmental Management Council (NEMC), which is the

main policy making body for environmental Management in The Gambia and chaired by the

President of the republic.

Environmental Quality Standards Regulations, 1999

The Environmental Quality Standards Regulations (EQSR), 1999 establishes the Environmental

Quality Board (EQB) with the following functions:

to propose environmental quality standards to the NEMC and to review same eriodically; and

to carry out any other functions that may be delegated to it by the NEMC.

In line with the objectives set out in the NEMA, environmental quality standards have been

enacted as part of the EQSR in respect of ambient air, saline waters, surface fresh waters and

groundwater.

Wildlife Conservation Act, 1977

The Wildlife Conservation Act (WCA), 1997 is an Act to provide for the conservation and rational

management of wildlife in the Gambia and for matters connected therewith and incidental

thereto. The Act provides for the establishment of National Parks, Nature Reserves and Local

Sanctuaries among others.

Fisheries Act, 2007

The Fisheries Act (FA), 2007 provides for the conservation, management and sustainable

utilisation and development of fisheries and aquaculture in the fisheries waters and in the

territory of the Gambia and matters connected therewith.

Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Act, 2001

The Gambia Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Act, 2001 provides for the establishment of

PURA, a multi-sector regulatory authority, to regulate the activities of providers of certain public

utilities amongst them energy services (electricity, petroleum and gas), communications services

(telecommunications, broadcasting and postal services), water and sewerage services and

transport services (on land, water and in the air).

2.3 Institutional and Administrative Framework

The relevant institutions with direct bearing on the project include:

Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MOFEA); Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure (MOICI) Gambian Telecommunications Company Limited (GAMTEL); Ministry of Petroleum (MOP)/ Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC); National Environmental Agency (NEA); Gambia Ports Authority (GPA);

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Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS); National Roads Authority (NRA); National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC); Department of Lands and Surveys; Department of Physical Planning and Housing; Geological Department; The Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (TANGO); and Gambia Tourism Authority.

Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MOFEA)

The MFEA derives its mandate from the constitution of The Gambia and is in charge of setting

the government’s overall economic policy objectives and formulating legal and institutional

frameworks for achieving the objectives. The specific responsibility of the ministry is as follows:

Development of the Government’s macro fiscal policy and the medium-term expenditure framework for budget preparation;

Management of the national budget preparation process; Coordination and management of external grants and loans; Carrying out budget execution and internal auditing, cash management and in-year financial

planning, management of government banking arrangements, management of government

accounting and reporting, and management of public debt;

Promotion of fiscal transparency and effective management in respect of revenues, expenditures, and assets and liabilities of the Government;

Responsibility for all tax and non tax revenue policy related issues, including all policy issues related to direct and indirect taxes, foreign trade taxes, excise duties and fees and licenses.

Exercising control over the implementation of the Government Budget, including any in-year adjustments to the budget;

Publishing, by appropriate means, the progress of budget execution; Inspection of the financial operations and property management of budget agencies; and Preparation and submission of annual statements of Government accounts to the Auditor-

General, and have them published for the interest of the general public.

It is the ministry’s function of coordination and management of external grants and loans that

explains MOFEA’s relationship with the ACE project. The MFEA is currently hosting the Project

Preparation Activities (PPA) within the (IFMIS) Project Implementation Unit (PIU). It is planned

that a separate PIU will be created for the WARCIP – The Gambia Project. The Aide Memoire for

the project has identified the needed capacity requirements for the PIU and has put steps in

motion to develop the necessary capacities for the proper management of the process. The

MFEA is expected to participate in the dialogue between GAMTEL and private operators to

discuss and agree on issues regarding the creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the

landing station. The Ministry will also help to finalize the choice and determine the degree of

private sector participation and the schedule for the contribution of the private sector.

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Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure (MOICI)

The vision and mission of MoICI is to lead and advocate in the mainstreaming of ICT in all sectors

of The Gambian society. The MOICI was created in 2002 to harmonize the rapid growth in the

communications, information and technology (notably information technology) industries. The

MOICI is to formulate policies and regulatory frameworks to aid systematic growth in the

communications industry and to manage telecommunication resources including the radio

spectrum. At the level of the public sector (inter-sector collaboration), the MOICI is to

coordinate and support the various sectoral information and communication technology (ICT)

initiatives. In an effort to build an information-rich and knowledge-based society consistent with

the Declaration of Principles of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the MOICI

will organize on-going and future ICT initiatives into a consistent and vigorous national ICT-led

policy and plan for socioeconomic development.

MoICI is the principal actor in the WARCIP – ACE – The Gambia Project. An official from the

Ministry is the focal Point for the project which MoICI is implementing through its technical unit

– GAMTEL. The Aide Memoire for the project assessed and recommended capacity-building in

the areas of:

1. Development of policy and institutional framework for top level domain name; and 2. Providing support to the MoICI in the area of ICT development.

In addition training, study tours will be organized and advisors hired for capacity building

support for the Ministry.

Gambia Telecommunications Company (GAMTEL)

The Gambia Telecommunications Company is the principal telecommunications company of The

Gambia. It is a state-owned company, charged with the task of supervising the provision of

telecommunications and internet service in the country. In association with GAMTEL's internet

company, GAMNET, it has successfully built Gambia's internet infrastructure. The company was

established in 1990 by an act of parliament as the single licensed telecommunications services

provider in the country; 99 percent of its stock is owned by the government of the Gambia and

the remaining 1 percent owned by the Gambia National Insurance Company. In 1993 it

commenced the task of creating the Gambia Radio and Television Service, a company that

operates the nation's radio and television industry. GAMTEL Currently employs over 1,000

people and its main offices are at GAMTEL House in Banjul.

The Company has steadily created a modern efficient network infrastructure, using state-of-the

-art technology in order to respond to the increasing demand of a dynamic market. GAMTEL has

grown swiftly into one of Gambia's leading enterprises recording an annual turnover of D417.8

million for the year ending 2001 and expecting an estimated figure of D419million for the year

ending 2002. During the eighteen years of operations GAMTEL has achieved and hit countless

number of targets. Among its latest ventures was the introduction of integrated service digital

network (ISDN), virtual private network (VPN), Internet Service Provider (ISP), electronic banking

(E-BANKING) and still in the pipeline is electronic education (E-LEARNING) and electronic

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commerce (E-COMMERCE). The single aim of GAMTEL is to provide a complete range of

communication services, based on market demand, at the lowest possible cost to the customers

and using the most modern and effective technology. It is this quest that makes the ACE project

so crucial to GAMTEL.

Ministry Of Petroleum (MOP)

The Ministry of Petroleum (MOP) has the responsibility for Petroleum exploration, development

and production. This includes:

Administration and implementation of the Petroleum Laws and regulations; Petroleum policies; Licensing; Petroleum data management; Human resources development; and Petroleum resources management.

The MOP aims to explore development, produce and manage petroleum resources of The

Gambia for sustainable economic development of the country and to support poverty reduction.

It does this through the Gambia National Petroleum Company (GNPC).

The role of the MOP/ GNPC in the ACE project is to co-ordinate its core activities and the

location of the submarine section of the fibre optic cable. The sea bed has been divided into the

blocks for the purposes of oil exploration. Each block is about 1,400km2 and the cable is

expected to pass through the oil blocks. Current technical studies for the project advocated a

500m buffer zone around for the cable but discussions with MOP/ GNPC revealed that this size

of buffer will adversely affect oil exploration activities. Further interaction between MOP/ GNPC

and GAMTEL is therefore required to fine tune and determine the barest minimum size of buffer

zone for the cable. Continued collaboration and co-operation between Gamtel and MoP is

required so that oil exploration activities and the ACE project are not in conflict with each other.

Currently the MOP/ GNPC has adequate resources to fulfil its functions with regards to the ACE

project.

National Environment Agency (NEA)

The NEA was established in 1993 by a cabinet decision and became fully functional in 1995.

Some of the duties of the NEA are to regulate the licensing of imported pesticides/hazardous

chemicals that are used in the country and to implement strategies and build capacity to phase

out Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS). NEA also has responsibility for coastal zone

management through harmonizing all policies and co-ordinating development activities inside

the coastal zone. On the ACE project NEA’s technical service directorate is responsible for

corroborating and approving the ESIA/ ESMP document and the issuing of environmental

approval for the project.

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Gambia Ports Authority (GPA)

Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) was established by the Ports Act of 1972 to take over the assets

and operations of the erstwhile Marine Department. GPA, which is a monopoly in the marine

sector, is responsible for the management, operation and development of marine and cargo

handling services at the Port of Banjul. It is a strategic entity which facilitates international

trade. In 2001, the ferries department was detached from the Gambia Public Transport

Corporation and transferred to GPA. Apart from the provision of ferry crossing services in

Banjul, the Ferries Department also operate ferry crossing at eight other crossing points

throughout the country. These are at Yellintenda/Bambatenda, Basse, Jarreng, Janjangbureh,

Barajally, Sankully Kunda, Bansang and Fatoto. GPA, which is wholly owned by the Government,

has a share capital of D16.3 million. The GPA's main port is located in Banjul. It is mainly used

for discharging and loading shipment for Container Carriers, Tankers, Ro-Ro and General Cargo

Vessels. It also provides a Navy base for the Gambia Navy and provides a ferry-crossing

Terminal for Banjul/Barra crossing. Another small port is located in Kaur but not operational.

GPA’s role in the ACE project will be to collaborate with the Gambian Navy to mark the route of

the cable both in the sea and on maps so that any conflicts between the cable and shipping

activities can be avoided. When the cable is laid, vessels of draft of 3-4m can still access the

area.

National Road Authority (NRA)

Established in 2003 by an Act of Parliament the NRA has responsibility for the construction,

maintenance, administration and control of all roads in The Gambia. NRA may with the consent

of the Minister, delegate its duties to a local authority or competent body or person for part of

any road. It has an independent board which is in charge of its general direction and practice.

The Ministry of Works, Construction & Infrastructure (MOWCI) has the oversight responsibility

for the NRA.

NRA has a very important role to play in the ACE project because the cable land route is located

in the utility corridor along three different types of road – a highway and access roads.

Moreover, the cable will cross the Kombo Beach Highway and this will entail the digging across

the road, the diversion of traffic away from the road for the duration of the conduit construction

and re-instatement of the road surface. Apart from ensuring that road surface confirms to the

standards of NRA, continued monitoring of the road corridor to secure the cable and to avoid

any conflict between any future road development and the cable route will also be the

responsibility of the NRA. The NRA is confident of being adequately equipped to discharge its

responsibilities towards the ACE project.

The NRA confirmed having a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the utility providers

i.e., GAMTEL, and the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) concerning road

crossings. Under the ACE project, NRA will carry out the road reinstatement while GAMTEL pays

for it.

SAL GOTG/ GAMTEL


Ministry of Fisheries and Water