Addis Ababa University

School of Development Studies

Centre for Rural, Local and Regional Development Studies

MA Program of Environment and Sustainable Development

Course Title: - Environmental Impact Assessment

Course Number: - DSESD672

Group Assignment on Review of Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), titled

by “Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment for the development of the Tendaho
geothermal area, Ethiopia”

Group Member Name ID

Abraham Lebeza GSE/0619/16

Meron Befekadu GSE/8076/16

Solomon Birhanu GSE/2537/16

Table of Contents
Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................................... ii
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1
2. Overview of EIA Document Evaluation ............................................................................................... 2
2.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 3
2.2. Geothermal Exploration in Tendaho ................................................................................................. 3
2.3. Environment impact assessment in Ethiopia –.................................................................................. 3
2.4. Description of the existing environment-.......................................................................................... 4
2.5. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ................................................................ 5
2.6. Project Components and activities .................................................................................................... 5
2.7. Baseline measures ............................................................................................................................. 7
2.8. Project Impact Identification and Analysis ....................................................................................... 7
2.9. Alternative Analysis.......................................................................................................................... 7
2.10. Public participation ....................................................................................................................... 8
2.11. Mitigation measures ...................................................................................................................... 8
2.12. Environment Management Plan and Monitoring/ Auditing.......................................................... 9
3. Synthesis and Discussion .................................................................................................................... 10
4. Limitations of the preliminary EIA report .......................................................................................... 11
5. Conclusions and Way forward ............................................................................................................ 11
6. References ........................................................................................................................................... 13

i|Page
 Acronyms

EIA Environmental Impact Assessment

EIAR Environmental Impact Assessment Report

EPA Environmental Protection Authority

ESMP Environment and Social Management Plan

GSE Geological Survey of Ethiopia

MoWIE Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy

PPE Personal Protective Equipment

TDS Total Dissolved Solids

UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization

ii | P a g e
1. Introduction

Ethiopia is endowed with renewable energy resources. The geothermal renewable resources
potential of Ethiopia is 10,000 MW (MoWIE, 2018). The government of Ethiopia strategy forges
to diversify its energy mix more into Wind and geothermal from the large base of hydro which is
affected by seasonal and annual rainfall fluctuations (National Electrification Program 2.0, 2019).
Geothermal energy development as part of the renewable energy stream is mentioned as one of the
pillars for Ethiopia climate-resilient green economy strategy (CRGE, 2011). The renewable
energy resources specially designed in small scale are very essential to reach the dispersed rural
settlements energy access (off grid electrification) and economic activities such as water pumping,
water heating, milling and other purposes (MoWIE, 2018). Geothermal energy among the other
renewable energy resources has so many advantages. It is developed in the arid areas where there
is no conflict with the flora and fauna, it cannot take much land which otherwise can cause
displacement of human settlements and affect their livelihoods and most importantly its design is
well fit with rural electrification for the rural communities who are sparsely populated and
disconnected from the on-grid national systems.
The project, a case in point , review of its preliminary environmental impact assessment is called
“Development of Geothermal Energy in Tendaho Geothermal Field”. The project area is located
630 KMs northeast of Addis Ababa, in the northern part of the Ethiopia rift which is part of the
Easter Africa Rift Valley.
Although the author of the preliminary EIA for the Tendaho geothermal energy development
writes the report for academic purposes, the proponent of the project is The Ministry of Mines of
Ethiopia (currently named The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum). The author has identified the
multiple stakeholders at different phases of the project. In the identified three phases of the project,
surface investigations, small scale power production, deep drilling and then medium scale power
production. The first two activities such as surface investigation and small-scale power- plant will
be executed by the Geological Survey of Ethiopia (GSE) and the Ethiopian Electric Power
Corporation. The small-scale power plant will be constructed on the existing four productive wells.
Therefore, the preliminary EIA report will focus on Phase I of the project development. A potential
private developer then after cost-benefit analysis of earlier results and detailed EIA study for
medium scale power production, it will engage in deep drilling and then develop medium scale
power-plant under the Phase II and III of the projects. The author of the preliminary EIA report
declared that his preliminary assessment does not cover the two phases, Phase II & III.

The author has mentioned different institutions such as Ethiopian Environmental Protection
Authority, Afar Regional Government, Ethiopian Electric Agency, Ethiopian Rural Electrification

1|Page
Development Promotion Centre and Tendaho Agricultural Development Enterprise which have a
stake in the project development.

The preliminary EIA for the Tendaho Geothermal Energy development project which is limited to
the first phase of the project such as surface investigations and generating some amount of power
for local use using small scale plants by utilizing the existing productive wells. The second and
third phase of the project, deep exploratory and evaluation-development drilling and medium scale
power production, according to the author, requires additional environmental impact assessment
due to the scale of potential environmental issues associated with deep drilling and medium scale
power generation.

A preliminary EIA report for the Tendaho geothermal energy development is significant as it
allows for the understanding of the environmental impacts of the project in advance so that
decision makers can comprehend the costs and benefits and then trade-offs the project for
commencement. Although geothermal energy development is labelled to be environmentally
benign compared to other energy sources; however the preliminary EIA is compulsory to
understand the ecological, physical and human impacts of the development of geothermal energy.
To this end, the preliminary EIA incorporates various studies such as geological survey to
determine the temperature and then the energy resource potential, depth of the wells, geochemistry
to understand the chemical composition of the geothermal fluid and its risk to the human health
and social economic assessment to understand the beneficial and risks of the project development
to the local people. As the geothermal energy development project is implemented under the
oversight of the Ethiopia environmental policies and regulations, the author dwells the planned
development against enshrined environmental requirements such as environmental geology, water
and air quality, land use and soil conditions, climate, flora and fauna and socio-economic
conditions. The preliminary EIA report is instrumental to minimize the project cost with which the
proponent can learn about appropriate designs and then delivering community benefits efficiently
is reciprocally increases the acceptability of the project by the community. The incremental project
development furthermore can serve as a showcase for the private developers to be triggered for
public-private partnership.

2. Overview of EIA Document Evaluation

The standard EIAR report commonly incorporates the processes such as screening, scoping,
impact identification, impact analysis, mitigation measures (environmental and social
management plan), and EIAR report and then execution of environment monitoring and audit plan
by the designated authority. The author in his preliminary environment impact assessment has
gone through EIAR components in more detail. The preliminary EIA assessment report is
structured in the below sections.

2|Page
 2.1. Introduction
The project information like the significance of the project , the project implementation area, the
scope of the project , its developer and the key stakeholders and policy and legal frameworks that
govern the development geothermal energy project have been discussed.

2.2. Geothermal Exploration in Tendaho

The author to carry out the screening, he refers to prior geothermal explorations conducted in
Tendaho. He conducted a desk review of different research works conducted globally and
nationally. The author has reviewed hydrogeology and geochemistry, geophysics and technical
and economic feasibility studies. Screening is the first process in the EIA process which relies on
information from desk review and professional expert judgement about a proposed development
initiative.
The author has reviewed that prior tests of drilled shallow and deep wells have a reservoir with a
temperature of 250 and 270 temperature respectively. Despite the quantity of the exploitable
geothermal energy is not known at this stage, there is a capacity to generate power. In the review
of literature by the author, he has gone through cost –benefit analysis of the geothermal energy
prospect in the area. The author has reviewed multiple technologies used for the geothermal energy
power plant and then advocated for a low- investment and low-efficiency alternatives for the first
phase of power generation on the basis of the available power, base demand, risk and existing
electric connection system. The alternative proposal helps to address the local electric demands of
the rural communities taking into account the project site which is located far from the national
grid.

2.3. Environment impact assessment in Ethiopia –

In this section the existing policy and legal frameworks that guide the development of geothermal
energy in Ethiopia are discussed. The author has mentioned that environment protection in
Ethiopia is enshrined in the constitution, Article 43 (the right to development) and Article 44 (the
right to live in an environmentally clean and healthy condition). Furthermore; the author,
elaborates the different institutions which engages in ecological survey in the country, institutions
which are liable to carry out the environmental impact assessment report (EIAR), institutions
mandated for a competent review of EIAR and allow project permit, developers which have the
right to develop the project and the regulatory institutions which are bestowed on enforcing
compliance of the project development and operation in line with environmental standards. The
geological survey of Ethiopia is bestowed with geological survey, the ministry of mining and
petroleum is mandated for approval of permit of geothermal energy projects and then the
Environmental Protection Authority along with its regional affiliates is mandated for enforcing
compliance to environmental standards. The Environmental Protection Authority along with its
regional affiliates is mandated to review the EIAR prepared by the developer.

3|Page
 2.4. Description of the existing environment-
The author explains about the environment where the project is going to be implemented, he tries
to show the magnitude of the potential impacts of the project to the existing fauna and flora and
the impacts into the physical environment. The author through desk review has recorded detailed
baseline information about the environment which would serve for two purposes. First it serves
to monitor the predicted environmental impacts against the actual due to project development and
the second is to inform the planners ahead for their decision about the environmental values in
the project areas.
The author dwells on the identification of environmental significant issues, he describes the
existing environment condition against the major environment classifications such as ecological,
physical /chemical, aesthetics and human interest/social (Battelle,1973 ). Under the major
environment classifications, the environmental geology of the project area is described as
recurrently hit by naturally occurring earthquakes, common with hydrothermal activity , hot
springs in the area forming salty creator lakes and deposition of silica sinter and fumaroles in the
area.
2.4.1. Water and air quality – the surface and ground water quality in the project site is poor.
The surface water of the area is with total dissolved solids (TDS) above 600 ppm with
content of sodium-carbonate and the groundwater is known with high salinity, high
iron and high temperature). The ground water quality is much poorer than the surface
water due to the natural thermal systems. Due to the sparse population in the area, there
are no anthropogenic sources that significantly impact the environment. But flaring of
gas and firewood for household consumption, fossil fuel generators and dust from
heavy tracks crossing the area is meagre.
2.4.2. Land and soil condition- the author describing the geothermal energy development
project is planned in the Ethiopia rift valley which is in a sparsely populated area, the
issues of land acquisition that displaced the communities is nil. The author added that
the land due to its sanity induced by widespread surface thermal activity is not used for
farming.
2.4.3. Climate, fauna and flora – due to the altitude of the project development area, which is
below 1500 m, it is characterised by hot zones. The average annual rainfall is low and
the moisture content of the air throughout most of the year is drought due to temperature
that soars to 40. The evapotranspiration is much higher than the precipitation rates. The
area is mostly barren with some drought resistance acacia trees. Wildlife is rare in the
project area.
2.4.4. Socio economic conditions - as the project area is in the way to Ethiopian main in -land
import and export outlet called Djibouti; the economy of the area is truck stop economy.
Access to water for humans and animals is from groundwater, awash river traditional
ponds and lakes and water tracking. The energy sources of the communities are acacia
trees, crop residues and camel and goat drooping.

4|Page
 2.5. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT
The project phases are three. These are, Phase I: Surface investigations and small-scale power
development, Phase II: Exploration drilling and Phase III: Evaluation - development drilling and
power plant installation. The Tendaho Geothermal energy project is an evolving project which is
planned to continue the phase III of the project based on the findings of the results of the first two
phases. Phase I and Phase II would be carried out by the ministry of mines and petroleum which
is mandated for geological surveys and then the exploration drilling which includes shallow depth
drilling to reach the shallow reservoir, construction of evaporation ponds and then the planting of
a steam-cycle back-pressure power plant that generates 3 MW for the local community. The phase
III projects which would be commissioned for a potential private developer are not part of the
project and would commence after a different environmental impact assessment study (EIASR) is
conducted.

2.6. Project Components and activities

The author of the preliminary EIA report for the Tendaho geothermal energy development outlines
the project development into the following sequential project components, surface investigations,
small scale plant, deep exploratory and evaluation-development drilling and medium scale power
production. The author mentions the detailed activities under each project and tries to identify the
environmental significance. An assessment was made using a checklist and an environmental
interaction matrix tool. Each project activities which have potential interaction with the
environment are evaluated against characteristics of the existing environment. The exercise is done
for all the project activities and the characteristics of the existing environment, which are Geology,
land use and landscape, Water quality, Occupational safety, Air quality and Socio-economic
conditions. The benefits and costs associated with the project activities are therefore identified at
this stage.

2.6.1. Small scale plant

The land area needed for the project is too insignificant and furthermore the impacts of the
steaming grounds in the surface is not exacerbated by erosion due to scarcity of rainfall in the area.
Thermal and chemical effects in the soil are evident due to the development of an increased steam
at the surface. However, the development of the projects is far from human and animal habitation.

Most of the geothermal energy projects bring fluids to the surface. Given the chemical composition
of water in the Tendaho area, the geothermal water after use will be stored in the evaporation pond
and the risk of infiltration into the groundwater is a common risk. The geochemistry of water
discharged is largely dependent on the chemistry of the reservoir. The chemistry of the geothermal
fluids is not quite different from the surface water in the area. The difference is only the high
content of chlorine which influences the taste and odour of drinking water but is not hazardous to
health. Like most geothermal waters, the productive wells in the Tendaho geothermal project
contain trace elements (arsenic, boron, lithium hydrogen sulphide, ammonia) except mercury,

5|Page
however, the concentration of these trace elements is below the standard as per the EPA regulation
and other global standards (EPA guideline, 2000).

Geothermal energy development is environmentally benign. The non -condensable gases (NCG)
such as (CO2 and H2S) from a type of a standard steam power plant planned in Tendaho do not
influence the air quality.

Occupation and health safety in the project site can happen due to the community encroaching in
the power plant and using the water in the evaporation pond for human or animal use due to the
scarcity of water. Furthermore, accidental injuries such as burn, and noise might happen during
the operation of machineries. Hydrothermal eruptions in the project sites are also expected risks
mostly for shallow reservoirs. The development of small-scale power-plant from geothermal
energy is assumed to be a means for the electrification of rural and isolated communities who are
detached from the on-grid national infrastructures. This further stimulates the rural economy
through the functioning of agro-industry development.

2.6.2. Deep drilling and small-scale power plan

During the three well deep drills planned to identify, define and test the geothermal reservoir. To
carry out this activity land use and soil conditions that would happen are land clearance for deep
drilling sites, and preparation of access roads for transporting machineries, accessories and drilling
pads. The issue of landscape changes and soil disturbance is not considerable as the project site is
appropriated in a barren area which is free from flora and fauna. In the same token noise to the
local population is unnoticeable due to remote location of the site, however the project staff can
mitigate the noise using mufflers. The nature of the impact due to the deep drilling activities is
because of the interaction between the existing environment and the duration of the impact.

2.6.3. Medium scale power plant

The medium scale power plant like the small -scale power plant poses environmental risks and
benefits; however, the magnitude of the impact is much larger due to the size of the project. The
successive project activities such as civil works, withdrawal of geothermal fluids, waste fluid
disposal, waste gas disposal and the generation of electricity power.

Degradation of the landscape by civil work such as access roads to pipelines and powerhouse
construction will have minor effects. It is difficult to predict the effect of the proposed development
on surface geothermal features. However, from the experiences of the world, the decline of hot
springs is expected to decline due to the exploitation of deep reservoirs. Increase causes of
seismicity, instability and subsidence of the land in the area (micro earthquakes of low magnitude).

Water quality is an issue associated with medium scale power-plant. One of the alternatives,
surface disposal (evaporation pond) if implemented will have an impact on the shallow
groundwater due to infiltration. Re-injection is the other alternative, which has an advantage in
terms of reservoir management and environmental protection. However, re-injection itself poses a
problem of potential seismicity.

6|Page
Non-Condensable Gases (NCG) such as CO2 and SO2 which are common emissions from the
geothermal energy development energy are in meagre amount which is not cause for air pollution
compared to the energy sources from fossil fuels and the burning of biomass in the local area. The
development of geothermal energy for electrification in the region would attract investments which
would in turn improve the wellbeing of the communities via job creation and other economic
activities.

2.7. Baseline measures

The baseline situations which exist before the commencement of the project are elaborated clearly.
The baseline situations which are critical to benchmark the negative and/or positive impacts of the
project investment are discussed case by case, against the identified environmental components to
be discerned in the preliminary environmental impact assessment report.

2.8. Project Impact Identification and Analysis

The preliminary EIA to assess the impact significance, the existing environmental issues as
previously described the Battelle method were scrutinized for their state of disturbance or not
under the geothermal energy project different activities. The disturbance of these environmental
issues is further evaluated against the impact significance criteria such as the extent/location,
intensity/magnitude, duration, reversibility/mitigation potential, acceptability and degree of
certainty/persistent while there is mitigation or not.

2.9. Alternative Analysis

The author has reviewed the environmental items step by step under each project activity. The
alternatives mitigation strategies were discussed with comparison and contrast of the advantages
and disadvantages of each alternative. Alternatives for water extraction to be used for the project
purpose, alternatives for wastewater disposal, wearing air mufflers by project staff and excavation
in dry seasons as opposed to rainy season.

Based on the available power, base demand, risk and existing electric connection system, a low-
investment and low-efficiency alternative (steam cycle with about 3 MW back pressure unit) was
recommended for the first project phase. The alternative strategy is instrumental for a low-income
country to generate revenues from scale projects and incrementally invest in bigger projects.

Water from existing productive wells might be used for drilling to cool the drilling bit and to flash
out the drilled cuttings or else if the existing wells are far from the drilling site a supply of water
from the Awash River might be adopted as an alternative solution.

7|Page
 2.10. Public participation
In the preliminary EIAR, diverse stakeholders from the local government are mentioned which are
expected to have vested interest in the project development. The Afar regional government and
Tendaho Agricultural Development Enterprises which are mentioned in the stakeholders list can
represent the communities who are directly impacted by the project development due to their
proximity to the project site. These institutional actors have different roles and different levels of
interest in the project implementation. However, the voice and concerns of the communities which
would be either benefiting or affected by the project development can be amplified by their direct
participation or their representatives. The authors in the preliminary EIA report do not show the
public consultation and participation done in the preliminary EIA development. However; the
socio-economic benefits to the community are elaborated during the impact identification and
analysis against different components of the project. This is mere consideration of the community
as recipients of benefits rather than assuming their position to craft what they need and prioritize.

2.11. Mitigation measures

The mitigation measures in the preliminary EIAR have been discussed against the environmental
classifications by Battelle Method. The Battelle method is instrumental to learn about the state of
the environment such as landscape/aesthetics, soil and water quality, air quality and human
interests while interacting with the different activities.

2.11.1. Landscape/aesthetics
⮚ According to the overall position of the author, the issues related to landscape changes and
land use competition for the development of the geothermal energy project are minor that
can be mitigated. Soil erosion that would be caused due to excavation for evaporation
ponds can be mitigated by planting trees. Pipelines for steam gathering and disposal, may
intrude into the natural landscape. This could be mitigated by painting and camouflaging
the pipes to blend in with the landscape.
2.11.2. Soil and water quality

⮚ Infiltration of wastewater from the evaporation pond can cause groundwater pollution in
the long run. Therefore, prior measures such as locating such evaporation bonds in
relatively impermeable soils is advantageous. Such mitigation actions can be managed by
shifting the locations/sites

⮚ The operating conditions for the geothermal power plants can cause the leakage of
wastewater into the surface water or it filters into the groundwater. Proper operational
maintenance and safe procedures can mitigate the impact of contamination of water.

⮚ Reinjection of geothermal wastewater into the deep wells (temperature reservoirs) instead
of collecting using evaporation ponds will decrease the risk of infiltration into the

8|Page
 groundwater. Therefore, reinjection can be taken as an alternative technology used in order
to mitigate water pollution due to infiltration from the evaporation pond. However, there
is a fear that reinjecting itself will create a pressure difference in the deep water to create
thermal eruption.
⮚ One of the health risks associated with the project is the use of waste water for human or
animal consumption by unaware community members facing the scarcity of water in their
area. The project developer along with the local government can create community
awareness on the health risks as well as tries to support the community have access to clean
and safe drinking water

2.11.3. Air quality

⮚ Due to the less gases emitted from the geothermal energy developments, the air quality is
not an environmental concern and there is no need for any mitigation measures. As the
geothermal energy development drilling sites are located very far from the residential
places and its short-term duration, the noise pollution is not an issue for the communities.
The occupational safety aspect of drilling noise for the project staff however could be easily
mitigated by wearing ear mufflers.

2.11.4. Human Interest

⮚ The management of normal accident injury type risks is handled by appropriate controls
and protocols, where access to a hazardous area is only allowed to people with appropriate
training and availing safety equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE).
⮚ The risk of hydrothermal eruption is expected due to the pressure changes in the deep well
and the outer surface and the moment of thermal water between wells. Therefore,
environmental management measures to avoid overexploiting of the reservoir and locating
the evaporation ponds as far as possible from the productive wells, and monitoring of the
surface thermal activities to help predict any future eruption, will be essential.

2.12. Environment Management Plan and Monitoring/ Auditing

The preliminary EIA report has discussed several mitigation measures for the different phases of
the project to mitigate the adverse impacts of the project. These mitigation measures can be part
of the environmental and social management plan ESMP) which would be executed in the project
development. Awareness creation to the local community on the hazardous nature of the
geothermal wastes and to refrain from human and animal consumption and also proposed support
for the community to have access to safe and clean drinking water that can be part of the ESMP in
the project implementation.
In the same token, a competent body with the mandate for enforcing compliance with the
environmental standards in the development of geothermal energy would be entitled for the
monitoring of whether the geothermal energy development conforming to what is predicted to

9|Page
happen with the project development during collecting of the baseline information. The competent
body will use the environment monitoring and audit plan for follow-up.
The author's recommendation, such as the need for frequent monitoring of the chemistry of water
in the project area, is a strategy that prevents hazardous materials from water used for human
consumption in advance. This is an activity to be followed up by a competent authority.

3. Synthesis and Discussion

3.1. Policy, legal and institutional frameworks
The preliminary EIAR has gone through the existing environmental policy and legal frameworks
to take stock of compliance requirements from the different policies addressed in the preliminary
EIA. The preliminary EIAR mentioned the different institutions which have a stake in the
geothermal energy development at Tendaho. However, given the preliminary EIA for the Tendaho
geothermal energy development was done in 2005, two decades before, there are many changes
after the report in the current Ethiopia energy landscape. The total energy production capacity of
the country that was 737 MW has reached 5,274.97 MW (UNIDO report, 2023) and new policies,
legal and institutional frameworks have been adopted as well as the energy production potential of
Ethiopia increased. The following are some of the proclamations adopted in Ethiopia that impacts
geothermal energy development.
1. Ethiopia National Energy Policy Revised (2018)
2. Geothermal Resources Development Proclamation No. 981/2016.
3. A Proclamation to Provide for Public Private Partnership No. 1076/201 8
4. The establishment of Ethiopia Electric Power by Energy Proclamation No. 1076/2018
5. Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) Guideline (2022)
6. Environmental Audit Guideline (2022)
The author has tried to employ impact characteristics while identifying the impact significance for
each of the different environmental items. The author admitted the likelihood of Hydrothermal
eruption is more common in shallow wells than in deep wells, he mentioned hydrothermal eruption
to pose an operational risk. In the same token, he clarified that the risk of subsidence which is more
likely in deep wells don’t pose an operational risk due to the location of wells far from settlement
areas.
In the preliminary EIA report, the author has extensively reviewed the different environmental
items against the impact characteristics such as duration of the impact, the extent/location of the
impact and reversibility of the impact. Impacts on the landscape and land use and fauna and flora
according to the author are identified as insignificant due to the project location in barren areas
which are not covered by vegetation, habituated by humans and animals.
The author has assessed a list of alternatives to be applied for mitigation environmental impacts.
The alternatives mentioned for managing wastewater disposal challenges such as surface disposal
and re-injection have been discussed with the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative.
The drawbacks of reservoir ponds which result in infiltration of wastewater into groundwater and

10 | P a g e
the reinjection practice which is associated with thermal eruption are the drawbacks compared for
decision making.
3.2. The quality of EIA document (Preliminary EIAR)
The geothermal energy development which can generate electricity power for the rural and isolated
communities who are detached from the on-grid national infrastructures can stimulate the rural
economy as it is emphasized in the preliminary EIAR. However, the experiences of the first
geothermal energy plant at Aluto Langano in Ethiopia which was commissioned to produce a net
7.3 MWe encountered frequent operational failures (UNIDO, 2023). Therefore; the operational
costs and risks that limit the project rate of return of its high investment outlays should be in the
equation of investment decisions. The author downplayed the operational risks of geothermal
energy projects which face intermittent failure and as a result are not fruitful under the current
Ethiopia context. The limitations of the preliminary EIA report that undermines the quality of the
report are mentioned in the limitations section.

4. Limitations of the preliminary EIA report

The following points can be taken as the limitations of the preliminary EIA report.

● The experiences of the first geothermal energy plant at Aluto Langano in Ethiopia which
was commissioned to produce a net 7.3 MWe encountered frequent operational failures
(UNIDO, 2023). Therefore, the operational costs and risks that limit the project rate of
return of its high investment outlays should be in the equation of investment decisions. The
author downplayed the operational risks of geothermal energy projects which face
intermittent failure and as a result are not fruitful under the current Ethiopia context. The
limitations of the preliminary EIA report that undermines the quality of the report are
mentioned in the limitations section.

● The authors in the preliminary EIA report do not show the public consultation and
participation done in the preliminary EIA development. However, the socio-economic
benefits to the community are elaborated during the impact identification and analysis
against different components of the project. This is mere consideration of the community
as recipients of benefits rather than assuming their position to craft what they need and
prioritize.
● Stakeholders such as the ministry of social and labour affairs which has stake in relation
with the occupational health and safety standards which are at play during the operation of
the power plant are not explicitly mentioned, however implicitly it might be represented
by the regional government to defend the rights of any interested and affected parties.

5. Conclusions and Way forward

⮚ The economic benefit of geothermal energy development in the Tendaho area in general
outweighs its environmental impacts. This is due to the fact the Tendaho area located in

11 | P a g e
 the Ethiopian rift valley is in barren areas where flora and fauna are not habituating.
Furthermore, the area is dry with limited surface water and low rainfall which would not
be caused for water pollution in the downstream and aggravation of by soil erosion
⮚ The benefits of the geothermal energy development to the socioeconomic betterment of the
local people, the national economy also stimulated due to the additional electric power
generated into the national grid. The development of renewable energy resources like
geothermal energy is environmentally friendly. Availing access to illuminating light,
energy for clean cooking and energy for other social services means improving the
community well-being and then would further reinforce environmental awareness and
protection.
⮚ The author has discussed some of the environmental impacts are short lived and reversible.
The noise due to excavation of wells, dust particles due to increased vehicular traffic and
some landscape damages are short lived and reversible if appropriate alternatives such as
excavation in the dry season to avoid erosion and mitigation measures such afforestation
activities.
⮚ The author has gone through a step -by-step assessment of the environmental items against
the project phases. The author has reviewed the interplay of environmental factors to
determine the environmental significance. Generally, in the geothermal energy project
development, the impacts associated with the two environmental items, landscape and land
use and occupational safety is reviewed against the extent/location (impact characteristics)
of the project. The location of the project which is in the rift valley escarpment is not fertile
land which can compel landscape and land use issues and at the same time the location is
not habituated by fauna and flora. However, there are always mitigation strategies which
can be successfully managed efficiently.
⮚ The author is emboldened to advocate for an additional detailed environmental impact
assessment to proceed with the development of Phase II of the project. The preliminary
EIA purpose is therefore limited for the Phase I of the project which minimizes the cost of
environmental damage due to development without such preliminary EIA and the results
managed at a lower level but efficient way can be used as a catalyst for ensuring project
acceptance by the community and trigger public-private partnership.
⮚ The author in the preliminary EIA report recommends a detailed EIA for Phase II. In the
same token, the author recommends that the findings in the preliminary EIA report are not
valid for all the time. He reported that the chemistry of water of the location should be
further studied as the geothermal site in the Ethiopian rift valleys is in a continuous
hydrothermal movement that might alter the original scenario and advised for the
geothermal energy development to institutionalize strict monitoring of its operation.

12 | P a g e
6. References

1. Environmental and Social Management Plan Guideline (EPA, 2022)URL

[Link]
2. Environmental Audit Guideline (EPA, 2022) URL
[Link]
[Link]
3. Environmental Impact Assessment Guideline (EPA, 2000) URL Microsoft Word -
[Link]
4. Environmental Impact Assessment Procedural Guideline Series1 (EPA, 2003) URL
[Link]
3)%20EPA%20Environmental%20impact%20assessment%20procedural%20guidelines
%20series%[Link]
5. Ethiopia National Energy Policy (MoWIE, 2018) URL
[Link]
ober_2018_9ed05e2e18.pdf
6. Fact sheet for geothermal development to promote Public Private Partnerships in East
Africa (UNIDO, 2023) URL [Link]/ot/32/09/32096908/Geothermal fact
sheet for promoting PPP -[Link]
7. GUIDELINE AMBIENT ENVIRONMENT STANDARDS FOR ETHIOPIA (EPA, 2023)
URL [Link]
[Link]
8. National Electrification Program 2.0(2019) URL [Link]
content/uploads/2020/08/[Link]
9. STATUS OF GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN ETHIOPIA
URL [Link]
29/[Link]

13 | P a g e