Public Participation in Environmental and Socioeconomic Considerations for Proposed 2.5 MW Pilot Eburru Geothermal Power Project, Kenya

Abstract

Public participation (PP) in impact assessment is growing. In many countries and regions, the focus is shifting from information provision towards consultation and active involvement. For Eburru geothermal power project, stakeholders and interested parties were identified while following legal requirements for public consultation and participation. The stakeholders were informed of the project intentions through formal letters, meetings, and workshops. The concerns, views and comments raised by the stakeholders were recorded and reviewed as discussed.
The socioeconomic concerns identified during the public participation in the EIA process for the Eburru geothermal power project are as follows: a) Community involvement, b) Employment, c) Water supply to the community, d) Electricity supply, e) Provision of basic amenities, including health and education facilities, f) Afforestation programme, g) Security improvement and h) local business development. The measures that have been developed to address these concerns are discussed. These measures include: a) Awareness programmes, b) Management involvement in consultations, c) Employment opportunities for locals, d) Compensation and settlement, e) Provision of economic packages through CSR in education, health, water supply, road infrastructure & electrification, f) Environmental action plans, and g) Other community support mechanisms such as the Clean Development Mechanism