Pkistan Energy Investment

PAKISTAN: ENERGY EFFICIENCY INVESTMENT PROGRAM
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND REVIEW FRAMEWORK
A.
INTRODUCTION
1.
The Government of Pakistan (GoP) has requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide a multitranche financing facility (MFF) to implement a systemic energy efficiency investment program under a flexible public sector financing mechanism to (i) scale up the deployment of proven energy efficiency technologies in energy supply and use, and (ii) establish a viable energy efficiency market. The proposed MFF will establish a dynamic business environment and transform the energy efficiency market in Pakistan. This MFF will finance priority projects that (i) increase energy supply and (ii) reduce peak loads. This will help strengthen Pakistan's energy security, optimize the energy mix and balance energy demand and supply.
2.
This Environmental Assessment and Review Framework (EARF) identifies the broad scope of the MFF and outlines the policy, procedures, and institutional requirements for preparing the environmental assessments of the subsequent projects under the MFF loan. This EARF shall apply to all projects under the MFF, so as to ensure that the environmental impacts are appropriately addressed and mitigated to acceptable levels.
3.
The MFF funding from the ADB is expected to be released in stages (tranches). Under the MFF loan procedures of the ADB, implementation of safeguards is to be achieved by environmental assessment of every project to be undertaken following the ADB’s Environment Policy 2002. The constituent projects in the Program generally concern investments in existing institutions and are not be likely to affect sensitive areas, forests or wetlands, and might typically be expected to been classified as Category B or C under the ADB’s Environmental Assessment Guidelines 2003 that will be followed for all projects.
4.
GoP regulations (Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Review of Initial Environmental Examination and...