This paper presents lessons from Nepal’s first transmission line Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) and highlights the need of regulatory authority for its effective implementation.
Cumulative impact assessment (CIA) is an emerging concept for Nepal’s energy sector. While some CIAs were carried out for hydropower sector, its application to transmission line system remained largely unexplored. This paper discusses the challenges and key lessons learned from implementing CIA for the first time in the transmission line project of Nepal.
The case study refers to the CIA carried out for Marsyangdi Corridor 220 kV transmission line project primarily to comply with the safeguard policies of the European Investment Bank, the financing institution of the project. This transmission line is about 110km in length, connects five districts and transverses through the protected areas in the central Nepal.
By referring to this implementation, this paper highlights the urgency of integrating CIA into Nepal’s rapidly expanding energy infrastructures. Furthermore, the paper argues that individual project developers lack the legal scope to conduct and implement CIAs independently and thus emphasizes the need of regulatory authority to govern cumulative assessment across the broader energy sector.
Prakash has over 15 years of experience in impact assessment mainly in energy sector. He is currently the head of Environment & Social Management Division of Tanahu storage hydropower project, Nepal.