083-i. Advice on ToR and review: hydropower Memve'ele - Cameroon

The NCEA advised on Terms of Reference (ToR) for an ESIA for the Memve'ele hydropower project, and subsequently performed an independent review of the ESIA report. It concluded that some important information is missing.

Advisory reports and other documents

Significant details

A hydropower dam is to be built above the Memve'ele falls in southwestern Cameroon. The selected site is located in a national park region with very high biodiversity. An EIA is required for this project according to national law, and furthermore the involvement of the World Bank and FMO triggers a requirement for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). The Environmental Ministry of Cameroon (MINEE) asked the NCEA to compose an independent working group and advise on Terms of Reference (ToR) for this ESIA.

The NCEA issued an advice on ToR, as requested. When the ESIA was undertaken, the NCEA was also asked to review the quality of the study. Some general findings of the NCEA were:

• The ToR established for this ESIA have been covered in the report, although sometimes selectively;
• Some of the information is however incomplete or unverifiable;
• Therefore, the NCEA cannot conclude on the basis of this report that the mitigation measures identified will suffice;
• Moreover, the report does not guarantee that these measures will be implemented.

For these reasons, the NCEA concluded that additional information is necessary before a sound decision can be taken on the proposed project.

Parties involved

Members of the working group

Chair: Aad van der Velden
Technical secretary: Gwen van Boven

Further details

Country: Cameroon

Last modified: 28 Mar 2019