DUSHANBE, February 8, 2011, Asia-Plus – The World Banks’ Inspection Panel will not undertake investigation on issue raised by the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan (EMU).
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors discussed Tajikistan Energy Loss Reduction Program (Study Program for proposed Roghun hydroelectricity power plant (HPP) on February 3.
Executive Directors considered the report entitled “Inspection Panel Report and Recommendation: Tajikistan Energy Loss Reduction Project” and approved the conclusion that the Inspection Panel will not undertake an investigation on the issues raised by the request for inspection submitted by the EMU.
The Inspection Panel received the Request for Inspection on October 8, 2010.
The Request for Inspection was submitted by Messrs. Boriy Alikhanov and Saydirasul Sanginov, and Ms. Dilorom Fayezieva on their behalf and on behalf of the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan, which declares that it represents NGOs of Uzbekistan as downstream affected people of a project with potential trans-boundary impacts. The requesters make several claims regarding potential impacts of the proposed Roghun HPP. In addition they are of the view that the process by which the Assessment Studies are being prepared is one-sided, and that the Bank’s communications with Uzbek representatives was unclear.
The core of their Request is a description of possible ecological, social and security related incidents that they allege could arise from the construction, operation and/or failure of the proposed Roghun HPP. In particular they express concerns regarding the proposed Roghun HPP’s outdated Soviet design and emphasize the need to assess the design’s compliance with current international standards.
In its response, Management notes that the Panel considers the Request ineligible for investigation because the issues raised by the Requesters focus on potential harm that could derive from the construction, operation and/or failure of the proposed Roghun HPP itself, but not from the Assessment Studies that the Bank intends to finance. Management has made no decision whether to finance the proposed Roghun HPP. Hence, Management fails to understand the harm that the Requesters allege could derive from these Assessment Studies.
Management also notes that the Assessment Studies have not yet commenced and therefore substantive application of Bank policies and procedures could not have taken place. Management maintains also that the preparatory work for the Assessment Studies to date meets the requirements of the Bank’s operational policies and procedures.
Management believes that an inspection at this stage of project preparation would undermine the Bank’s policy by replacing the independent and integrated environmental and social assessment mandated by the Bank’s operational policies with a limited review of the concerns and issues expressed by one stakeholder group. This practice could seriously undermine the Bank’s ability to provide technical support and impartial advice to client countries, and act as a knowledge bank.
As regards the issue of the Requesters’ prior contact with Management, Management notes that it has no records of the Requesters’ attempt to raise their issues with Management. While the Requesters did meet with Management to communicate their views, this took place on the same day that their Request for Inspection was submitted. Management considers that this is not in line with the eligibility stipulations set out in the Resolution establishing the Inspection Panel.
