070-i. Advice on ToR: EIA for dredging of Amaluza reservoir - Ecuador

The NCEA advised on Terms of Reference (ToR) for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a reservoir dredging project. The NCEA's quality review of the resulting EIA was initially also requested, but was no longer necessary since the project plans and EIA procedure were terminated.

Advisory reports and other documents

Significant details

A Netherlands dredging company applied for ORET-grants for a dredging project for the Amaluza reservoir in the Paute river in Ecuador. The proposed project aims to eliminate obstruction of the water intake drain. It is also intended to recover part of the buffer capacity of the reservoir.

Dutch Development Bank FMO is responsible for assessing ORET applications on a number of feasibility aspects, and required a thorough assessment of environmental and social impacts. For this purpose, FMO invited the NCEA to:

• Review a proposal for Terms of Reference (ToR) for an EIA report for this project;
• Independently review the quality of the finalized EIA report.

In these activities, the NCEA was asked to take into account both Ecuadorian EIA requirements and the EIA requirements of CAF.

Upon this request, the NCEA formed a working group with expertise in all relevant disciplines. After a site visit and review of documentation, the NCEA formulated its advice on the proposed ToR. It also indicated gaps in information that needed to be covered in order to allow for sound decision-making. One of the main issues here was the lack of information on whether or not deposited sediments will move downstream of the riverbed.

After finalization of the ToR, it became clear that the Ecuadorian government had decided to withdraw from the tender procedure. Therefore the request for an ORET grant was also cancelled, and the second step in NCEA assistance was no longer relevant.

Parties involved

Members of the working group

Chair: Klaas-Jan Beek
Technical secretary: Ineke Steinhauer

Proponent and Component Authority

Further details

Country: Ecuador

Last modified: 28 May 2019