Despite their disruption, can dams help the organisation work towards ending poverty while keeping carbon emissions down?

* Howard Schneider for the Washington Post
* Guardian Weekly, Tuesday 14 May 2013

The World Bank is making a major push to develop large-scale hydropower, something it had all but abandoned a decade ago but now sees as crucial to resolving the tension between economic development and the drive to tame carbon use.

Major hydropower projects in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Nepal and elsewhere  all of a scale dubbed “transformational” to the regions involved  are part of the bank’s fundraising drive among wealthy nations. Bank lending for hydropower has scaled up in recent years, and officials expect the trend to continue.

Such projects were shunned in the 1990s, in part because they can be disruptive to communities and ecosystems. But the World Bank is opening the taps for dams and related infrastructure as its president, Jim Yong Kim, tries to resolve a quandary at the bank’s core: how to eliminate poverty while adding as little as possible to carbon emissions.

“Large hydro is a very big part of the solution for Africa and south Asia and south-east Asia … I fundamentally believe we have to be involved,” said Rachel Kyte, the bank’s vice-president for sustainable development and an influential voice among Kim’s top staff members. The earlier move out of hydro “was the wrong message … That was then. This is now. We are back.”

It is a controversial stance. The bank backed out of large-scale hydropower because of the steep trade-offs involved. Big dams produce lots of cheap, clean electricity, but they often uproot villages and destroy the livelihoods of the people the institution is supposed to help. A 2009 World Bank review of hydropower noted the “overwhelming environmental and social risks” that had to be addressed but also concluded that Africa and Asia’s vast and largely undeveloped hydropower potential was key to providing dependable electricity to the hundreds of millions of people who remain without it.

“What’s the one issue that’s holding back development in the poorest countries? It’s energy. There’s just no question,” Kim said in an interview.

Advocacy groups remain sceptical, arguing that large projects, such as Congo’s long-debated network of dams around Inga Falls, may be of more benefit to mining companies or industries in neighbouring countries than poor communities.

“It is the old idea of a silver bullet that can modernise whole economies,” said Peter Bosshard, policy director of International Rivers, a group that has organised opposition to the bank’s evolving hydro policy and argued for smaller projects designed around communities rather than mega-dams meant to export power throughout a region.

“Turning back to hydro is being anything but a progressive climate bank,” said Justin Guay, a Sierra Club spokesman on climate and energy issues. “There needs to be a clear shift from large, centralised projects.”

The major nations that support the World Bank, however, have been pushing it to identify such projects  complex undertakings that might happen only if an international organisation is involved in sorting out the financing, overseeing the performance and navigating the politics.

The move toward big hydro comes amid Kim’s stark warning that global warming will leave the next generation with an “unrecognisable planet”. That dire prediction, however, has left him struggling for how best to respond and frustrated by some of the bank’s inherent limitations.

In his speeches, Kim talks passionately about the bank’s ability to “catalyse” and “leverage” the world to action by mobilising money and ideas, and he says he is hunting for ideas “equal to the challenge” of curbing carbon use. He has criticised the “small bore” thinking he says has hobbled progress on the issue.

However, the bank remains in the business of financing traditional fossil-fuel plants, including those that use the dirtiest form of coal, as well as cleaner but carbon-based natural gas infrastructures.

Among the projects likely to cross Kim’s desk in coming months, for example, is a 600-MW power plant in Kosovo that would be fired by lignite coal, the bottom of the barrel when it comes to carbon emissions.

The plant has strong backing from the United States, the World Bank’s major shareholder. It also meshes with one of the bank’s other long-standing imperatives: give countries what they ask for. The institution has 188 members to keep happy and can go only so far in trying to impose its judgment over that of local officials. Kim, who in his younger days demonstrated against World Bank-enforced “orthodoxy” in economic policy, now may be hard-pressed to enforce an energy orthodoxy of his own.

Kosovo’s domestic supplies of lignite are ample enough to free the country from imported fuel. Kim said there is little question Kosovo needs more electricity, and the new plant will allow an older, more polluting facility to be shut down.

“I would just love to never sign a coal project,” Kim said. “We understand it is much, much dirtier, but … we have 188 members … We have to be fair in balancing the needs of poor countries … with this other bigger goal of tackling climate change.”

The bank is working on other ideas. Kim said he is considering how the bank might get involved in creating a more effective world market for carbon, allowing countries that invest in renewable energy or “climate friendly” agriculture to be paid for their carbon savings by industries that need to use fossil fuels. Existing carbon markets have been plagued with volatile pricing  Europe’s cost of carbon has basically collapsed  or rules that prevent carbon trading with developing countries.

“We’ve got to figure out a way to establish a stable price of carbon,” Kim said. “Everybody knows that.”

He has also staked hope for climate progress on developments in agriculture.

Hydropower projects, however, seem notably inside what Kim says is the bank’s sweet spot  complex, high-impact, green and requiring the sort of joint public and private financing Kim says the bank can attract.

The massive hydropower potential of the Congo river, estimated at about 40,000MW, is such a target. Its development is on a list of top world infrastructure priorities prepared by the World Bank and other development agencies for the Group of 20 major economic powers.

Two smaller dams on the river have been plagued by poor performance and are being rehabilitated with World Bank assistance. A third being planned would represent a quantum jump  a 4,800MW, $12bn giant that would move an entire region off carbon-based electricity.

The African Development Bank has begun negotiations over the financing, and the World Bank is ready to step in with tens of millions of dollars in technical-planning help.

“In an ideal world, we start building in 2016. By 2020, we switch on the lights,” said Hela Cheikhrouhou, energy and environment director for the African Development Bank.

It is the sort of project that the World Bank had stayed away from for many years  not least because of instability in the country. But as the country tries to move beyond its civil war and the region intensifies its quest for the power to fuel economic growth, the bank seems ready to move. Kim will visit Congo this month for a discussion about development in fragile and war-torn states.

Kyte, the World Bank vice president, said the Inga project will be high on the agenda.

“People have been looking at the Inga dam for as long as I have been in the development business,” she said. “The question is: Did the stars align? Did you have a government in place? Did people want to do it? Are there investors interested? Do you have the ability to do the technical work? The stars are aligned now. Let’s go.”

BY Katy Migiro

The Gibe III dam will stop the Omo River’s natural flood, on which the tribes depend.

Half a million Kenyans and Ethiopians are likely to be displaced, go hungry and face conflict due to a controversial dam linked to a forcible resettlement programme ‘bankrolled’ by British taxpayers, the lobby group Survival International said on Monday.

The Gibe III hydropower dam, due for completion in 2014, is being built on the Omo River in southern Ethiopia. It will reduce the flow of water to farmers and pastoralists living downstream, including those 600 kilometres to the south in Kenya, where the river flows into Lake Turkana, the world’s largest desert lake.

The British government’s Department for International Development (DFID) is one of many international donors funding Ethiopia’s Protection of Basic Services (PBS) programme, which subsidises basic services and local government salaries. This includes areas where people are being relocated to make way for the dam, part of a wider programme to resettle people into designated villages – known as villagisation – begun in 2010.

Survival argues that the forced resettlment of thousands of tribal people could not be carried out without the DFID-funded PBS programme.

“UK money is bankrolling the destruction of some of the best-known pastoralist peoples in Africa,” Stephen Corry, director of Survival said in a statement. “The UK government is renowned for only paying lip service to human rights obligations where tribal peoples are concerned. When it comes to human rights in Ethiopia, DFID’s many commitments are worthless.”

It is not the first time that the PBS programme has come under fire.

Last year, the London-based law firm Leigh Day began legal action against DfID on behalf of an Ethiopian man, known as Mr O, who claims he suffered severe abuse under the villagisation programme.

DFID visited the Lower Omo, where it heard reports of rape and intimidation, but it has not been able to substantiate the claims.

Survival International cites three recent reports by Oxford University, International Rivers and the Africa Resources Working Group to support its case.

The Africa Resources Working Group report warns of “an impending human rights and ecological catastrophe” and a “very real threat of mass starvation and armed conflict in the border region.”

The International Rivers report says that those who lose their homes and livelihoods are “likely to seek out resources on their neighbours’ lands in the Kenya-Ethiopia-Sudan borderlands.”

“Well armed, primed by past grudges and often divided by support from different state and local governments, these conflicts can be expected to be bloody and persistent,” it said.

The Ethiopian government is planning to use the water to develop large-scale irrigation schemes, create jobs and generate huge amounts of electricity to power the region.

By MAB

The companies Norte Energia and Belo Monte Constructions succeeded in the Pará State Court to issue an interdiction against the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) and the Movement Xingu Forever Alive (MXVPS). The movements are prohibited from organising any action that would interfere in the process of the construction of the dam. If they ignore, they will be fined 50,000 BRL a day.

Source: International Cry

A group of Indigenous Peoples group of Naso protestors blocked access to the Bonyic Hydroelectric
project in Bocas del Toro province, western Panama. The protestors, who
issued an urgent plea for international solidarity, say that a new road
will cut through an ancient archaeological site, which has already been
damaged by bulldozers. They say the site is extensive and that they have
collected a variety of ceramic shards, implements, huacas (pre-Colombian
ornaments) and a piece of human bone from the area, indicating it was
once perhaps a burial ground.

**************
To watch Rebecca Sommer’s Videos about other human rights issues of the indigenous peoples Naso and Ngobe, with their representatives at the Human Rights hearing in Washington at the OAS:
VIDEO: PART 1
VIDEO: PART 1
VIDEO: PART 3

Background videos:
A group of Naso and Ngobe Indigenous Peoples from Western Panama testified in Washington, D. C.at a hearing at the Inter-American Human Rights Commission (IAHRC) on Wednesday Oct. 29, 2008. The Indigenous representatives gave evidence of the discrimination, abuse, and displacement that they have been suffering from Empresas Publicas de Medellin (Colombia), AES Corporation (United States), and the Government of Panama, who are together constructing four hydroelectric dams on the land of the Indigenous Peoples in the La Amistad Biosphere Reserve.

The representatives from the Naso and Ngobe people say that the construction of these dams will destroy their traditional livelihood and homelands, and that their land rights and informed consent have been denied to them by the Government of Panama.

June 9, 2011:
Amigos.
Despues de largos siete años de lucha para que los gobeinos de turon en Panama dejara de reconocer a Tito Santana, como rey, ayer se logros a firmar acuerdos que pone fin a esta lucha.

Desde el pasado 30 de mayo del 2004, el pueblo Naso separo a Tito Santana del cargo y le asumio la responsablilidad al señor rey Valentin Santana. Desde entonce los gobierno de turno han mantenido el reconocimiento a Tito Santana pese a toda oposicion pero esto solo se entiende que ha sido para lograr firmar convenios, acuerdo fraudulento con la Empresas Publica de Medellin violentando todo derecho del Pueblo Naso.

Desde el mes de abril se intensifico mas la lucha luego de organizarse una vez mas la dirigencia de este pueblo y se aprovo serias acciones lo que permitio que el gobierno firmara un acuerdo con la dirgencia y se estableciera una mesa de dialogo para comenzar a atacar las problematicas de nuestro territorio.

Una de los puntos es la definicion de una nuevas elecciones lo que llevo ya cuatro semana y en las ultimas dos semana Tito Santana abandono la mesa sin firmar acuerdo lo que obligo a la dirigencia decretar nuevas accinones de cierre lo que concluyo ayer con la visita una vez mas del viceministro de Gobierno y justicia.

Ayer siendo la 3:00 pm con la presencia del Gobierno Tito Santana, firmo un acuerdo a peticion del pueblo Naso para realizar una asamblea el 10 de julio del presente año donde se decidira las fechas de las nuevas elecciones y sobre totos bajo el mecanismo tradicional del pueblo Naso.

Siete año de resistencia frente a los azote, tormenta, terremotos, violaciones, robos de territorio, pero hemos prevalecidos por que realmente nuestras RAICES SON PROFUNDAS.

Este es apenas el primer punto en discucion con el gobierno pero ahora el 17 de junio se reactivara la mesa de dialogo con el siguiente punto que es la discucion por la COMARCA NASO, la pregunta sera tendremos que cerrar calles otra vez?, luego vendra otro tema que es cable de alta tension el proyecto de muerte.

Solo les digo el pueblo esta encendido y esta reclamando sus derechos uste tambien puede ser parte solo en seguir apoyandonos para seguir enfrentando esta realidades de hoy dia.

Hasta pronto.

Felix Sanchez.

Fundacion Naso.

Email: fund.naso@gmail.com

Since yesterday, Thursday 21/6/2012, the indigenous peoples affected by the hydroelectric dam Belo Monte occupy an area of the dams construction. They decided for the occupation in order to express their dissatisfaction at the disregard of their rights and the non-compliance with the (construction agreements) conditions, especially those relating to the Indigenous peoples. Organized by themselves and with their own resources, they occupied “Pimental”, and the work-in-progress site that is intended to allow construction. The demonstration is peaceful, and the Indigenous peoples request the presence of government representatives and the Northern Energy corporation.

Yesterday, the Earth’s Indigenous Xikrin Trench-Bacajá and Juruna Paquiçamba came to the cofferdam by river, from its IT, which are downstream of the dam in the region that suffer from drought in the project area called the Low Flow Xingu. Ships also left Altamira, where some Indians arrived by road from the more distant villages, and from where indigenous people reside or remained in the city. Are expected the Arara of the Big Bend of the Xingu and representatives of all indigenous lands in the region, coming from Iriri and Xingu rivers upstream of Altamira, in addition to the townspeople. This morning depart Paracana leaders to meet those who are already camped in the cofferdam.

The Indians are unhappy with the situation, since the conditions that should precede the works are not being adequately met in their lands and Altamira. Besides those that affect us all - as the delay in investing in the infrastructure of the city, health services and education and basic sanitation are increasingly burdened with the population increase already felt throughout the region - the indigenous peoples are concerned with the delay in implementation of the Basic Environmental Plan - indigenous component (PBA), which should establish and implement programs of compensation and mitigation of impacts already felt in the region by the Indians, with the delay in delivery of the Xikrin Complementary Studies River Bacajá , which for now have only been presented in the villages, and would allow a better scaling of impacts on this river and the Xikrin, and guarantee the definition of compensation programs and mitigation of these impacts, especially to predict that the drought will suffer from its river construction of the project, by ignorance of the PBA by the Indians, which is asked more and better performances for all to understand, the delay in defining the situation of indigenous land tenure Land Wanga, Paquiçamba, 17 km from the Juruna and Cachoeira Seca, be vague the transposition system of the dam and the fear that they are isolated from Altamira, a town where the main services that meet them (health, education, offices FUNAI); not authorize the construction of more roads as an alternative to river transport currently used by the Indians and that will be hampered by implementation of the dam and drought (reduced flow) of the riverbed, and the lack of necessary investment and infrastructure prior to work in the affected villages, such as to ensure the abstraction of drinking water in villages in the Volta Grande do Xingu, in which the water of the river, until then consumed by the population, is already muddy and unhealthy due to construction.

América do Sul : Governo diz que projeto de US$ 4,9 bi vai a consulta popular

Marcos de Moura e Souza e Daniel Rittner | De São Paulo e Buenos Aires - O governo do Peru cancelou a licença de concessão temporária que a Eletrobrás e a construtora OAS tinham para trabalhar no projeto de construção da maior hidrelétrica do país, uma obra orçada em US$ 4,9 bilhões. Criticado por comunidades indígenas, que dizem que serão afetadas pela obra, o projeto só será retomado se for aprovado num processo de consulta a essas populações, disse o Ministério de Energia e Minas.

A hidrelétrica de Inambari, na região central do Peru, é peça-chave no plano de internacionalização do grupo Eletrobrás. Parte da energia a ser gerada será destinada ao mercado brasileiro. De acordo com fontes do ministério peruano que acompanham de perto o assunto e ouvidas ontem pelo Valor, o processo agora “recomeça do zero” e “qualquer empresa interessada” poderá participar, mas só depois da consulta popular.

O presidente do projeto Inambari, o engenheiro Evandro Miguel, da OAS, disse que o consórcio - chamado de Egasur - já investiu US$ 22 milhões nos estudos de viabilidade técnica e econômica. O consórcio é formado pela OAS (51%), pela Eletrobrás (29,4%) e sua subsidiária Furnas (19,6%).

Houve discussões no governo peruano sobre a possibilidade de realizar a consulta mantendo a concessão à Egasur. Mas a decisão acabou favorecendo os movimentos indígenas e foi comemorada pelo governo de Puno, uma das regiões onde se concentra a oposição ao projeto.

A alegação oficial do governo do presidente Alan García é que o país atenderá a um tratado da Organização Internacional do Trabalho (OIT) que estabelece que as comunidades locais sejam consultadas antes do início de obras que impliquem em grandes intervenções em suas regiões.

Mas cálculos políticos do presidente é que podem ter sido determinantes na decisão de cancelar a licença preliminar. García encerra seus cinco anos de governo em 28 de julho. Deixa o cargo para seu opositor, o esquerdista Ollanta Humala. Alguns analistas dizem que García pretende deixar um rastro de “dinamite” para o sucessor. Inambari seria uma delas.

Eleito com forte apoio da maioria indígena do país, Humala disse durante a campanha que aceitaria manter o projeto se este fosse aprovado em uma consulta popular das comunidades atingidas. Se a oposição ao projeto ganhar corpo, o novo presidente terá de fazer exercício para equilibrar seu compromisso com a base eleitoral a necessidade do país de ampliar sua capacidade de geração de energia. Ao cancelar a concessão, Garcia ainda se livra do risco de ver a região mergulhar em protestos violentos - o que mancharia mais ainda sua imagem já desgastada.

Miguel, da OAS, avalia que parte da população das três regiões onde ficaria a represa - Cuzco, Madre de Dios e Puno - apoia o projeto. “Mas há líderes sociais que têm interesses políticos na região e por isso se opõe às obra”, disse. “Nós vamos agora esperar o novo governo. É preciso saber se as comunidades e se o país querem o projeto.”

Comunidades locais e críticos dizem que a usina afetará a biodiversidade de uma reserva nacional, forçará o reassentamento não de 3.500 pessoas, como dizem as empresas, mas de até 14 mil e reclamam que trechos da rodovia interoceânica ficarão debaixo d’água. Dizem ainda que o empreendimento beneficiará mais o Brasil do que o Peru. A hidrelétrica deverá ter potência de 2,2 mil megawatts (MW) e 80% de sua produção viria para o Brasil. A área a ser inundada, segundo a OAS, é de 378 km quadrados. Inambari faz parte de um conjunto de seis usinas no Peru que integram o convênio de integração energética firmado pelo ex-presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva e García, em 2009.

Side event about the hydroelectric dam BELO MONTE (Brazil, Amazon, Xingu River ) took place April 2010, at the World’s Peoples Conference on Climate Change and Mother Earth Rights, in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
The goal of the event was to build international solidarity to stop the dams in the amazon, and to raise awareness. The Belo Monte Dam would be one of 258 new dams, that Brazil is planning to build in the Brazilian amazon. Belo Monte would be the 3rd largest dam of the world ! Videos by Rebecca Sommer.

VIDEO: part 1
part 2
part 3

Companies, including your utility company and even some environmental groups are lobbying for a mandatory “cap and trade” system that would penalize heavy polluters and reward companies that invest in clean power. Under the plan companies whose emissions are under their “cap” would get credits that could be sold to producers who go over their limit.

LEARN HOW THE “CAP AND TRADE” SCHEME WORKS -Play along as a company making investment decisions in a simulated market using such a system.

CLICK to PLAY:PAYING TO POLLUTE