Duration: October 2018 – December 2018

Client and Donor: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Location: Jordan

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Project Description:

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) provided a USD 265 million sovereign-guaranteed loan to the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO), with a tenure of up to 18 years. The proceeds of the loan were designated to assist NEPCO in its reforms and developing Jordan's electricity sector. The Project supported NEPCO to adapt its operations to allow for further development of renewable energy in Jordan and to improve the sector's sustainability.

Provided Services:

ECO Consult was assigned by EBRD to undertake an Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD). Our work encompassed E&S audits and meetings with NEPCO Team, site visits, and review of NEPCO's corporate procedures in terms of Environmental, Health and Safety, and Social (EHSS) management. The ESDD was carried out in accordance with: applicable local, national and regional requirements; the EBRD’s Environmental and Social Policy (ESP)_2014 (and the incorporated PRs), and relevant European Union (EU) requirements; and relevant international conventions and protocols relating to environmental and social (E&S) issues, as transposed into national legislation.

The ESDD included the assessment of the ‘Project’ against applicable EBRD Performance Requirements (PRs) and the review of the associated facilities' environmental and social risks.

As a result of the ESDD, ECO Consult prepared an Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) which has been adopted for the Project. The ESAP addresses deficiencies and associated risks and identifies mitigation measures to ensure that all work to be carried out in relation to the Project complies with the EBRD’s PRs.

In addition, ECO Consult prepared the following:

• Non-Technical Summary (NTS) which provided a summary in non-technical language of the main findings of the E&S assessment undertaken for the Project;
• Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) which described the planned stakeholder consultation activities and engagement process as well as a grievance mechanism to ensure that it is responsive to any concerns and complaints, particularly from affected stakeholders and communities.