Environmental Assessment and Review Framework TON: Cyclone Gita Recovery Project
The Tonga Cyclone Ian Recovery Project (the project) will support the Government of Tonga reconstruct and climate proof the main electricity grid network in the Nuku’alofa, damaged by Tropical Cyclone Gita. On the evening of 12 February and early morning of 13 February 2018, Tropical Cyclone Gita passed by the main island of Tongatapu and the nearby island of ʻEua causing substantial damage. An estimated 80,000 people were directly affected (around 80% of the population) and an estimated 800 homes were destroyed and a further 4,000 damaged. The electricity network was also substantially damage, disconnecting all Tonga Power Limited (TPL) customers in Tongatapu and ‘Eua.
The Government of Tonga, through the Ministry for Finance and National Planning (MFNP), requested ADB support for post-cyclone reconstruction on 12 April 2018. The proposed Project will finance reconstruction and “building back better” of priority areas of the Nuku’alofa electricity network particularly from Mataki’eua, Tofa to Fanga composed of around 11 villages. The Project in this context will finance the reconstruction of immediate priority areas of the Nuku’alofa electricity network, identified as the most affected by the cyclone, restoring access to supply and upgrading the network order to ensure improved climate resilience
This is the environmental assessment and review framework (EARF). The provision for the use of frameworks is required for components of projects where decisions on scope and location and/or detailed design of components take place after ADB Board approval. The immediate disaster response nature of this particular project requires further due diligence to be fulfilled during the early stages of implementation. This EARF has been prepared to provide consistent and appropriate environmental standards to be considered under the Project. Prior to approval of any subprojects or components by ADB, an environmental assessment process as outlined in this EARF will be undertaken.
The purpose of this EARF is to provide a framework to review and assess environmental aspects of activities undertaken within a project, including preconstruction, construction and operational phases. It will provide an overview of the anticipated impacts of the project’s components and set out the requirements and procedures to ensure compliance with the national environmental assessment and review procedures in Tonga, as well as those required by ADB. Consultation mechanisms, grievance redress, and environmental monitoring and reporting will also be addressed within this framework to ensure ongoing adherence to environmental safeguards.
