Transcript Revising the regulation of project approval for EIA in Lao PDR

Lao PDR
Area: total: 236,800 sq km
Population: 5.6 million
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity $1,900
GDP - composition by
sector: agriculture: 49.5% /
industry: 27.5% / services:
23%
Labor force - by
occupation: agriculture
80%
Industries: gold, tin and
gypsum mining, timber,
electric power, agricultural
processing, construction,
garments, tourism
Revising the regulations on
project approval for EIA in Lao
PDR
Somphath SOUVANNAVONG, CPI, Lao PDR
Vivath SAUVALY, Enterprise Development
Consultants Co. Ltd., Lao PDR
Akiko Urago, IC Net Limited, Japan
Table of Contents
1. Background of EIA in Lao PDR
2. Why EIA is not fully applied to public
investment projects in Lao PDR?
3. The actions CPI has been taken
4. Lessons Learned
1. Background of EIA in Lao PDR
Regulation on EIA (1770/STEA.PMO,
Oct. 2000) defines general principles
for impact assessment at project level
All infrastructure donor projects have
prepared EIA reports
Most of domestic projects have been
approved without EIA
2. Why EIA is not fully applied to public
investment projects in Lao PDR?
CPI and DPI who are in charge of approval
of domestic projects, are not familiar with
EIA process.
The regulation on public investment No.
918 defines the procedure of domestic
projects’ approval and environment
considerations, but does not specifically
mention EIA.
EIA regulation is less effective than a
decree.
2-1. Approval without EIA
Donor projects
Project Owner
Proposal
STEA
CPI
Project Owner
EIS
Domestic projects
Proposal
Certificate
Approval
Start Project
EIS
Certificate
Approval
Start Project
3. The actions CPI has been taken
Preparation of a new approval
procedure and a handbook
Environmental training for CPI and
DPI, central and provincial
government officials
Revision of Regulation on public
investment No. 918
3-1 Proposed work flow
Step 1: Check the documents
Step 2: Input the project information
Step 3: Check the project
Step A: Prepare POT/Chronology
Step 4: Project Assessment
Step B: Program Assessment
Step 5: Adjustment each project budget
Step 6: Preparation PIP
Step C: Preparing NSEDP
3-2 Proposed budget request
format
3-3 Proposed Regulation Articles
Article 15 Total Project Costs:
Total project costs shall be adjusted for
unexpected environmental impact.
Article 20 Preparation, Management and
Evaluation Costs:
EIA cost must be considered for getting
approval for the annual budget based
on the quotation proposed by the
environmental impact assessor.
3-4 Proposed Regulation Articles
Articles 22: Procedures for Public
Investment Project Implementation:
The Project Owner must obtain an
environmental certificate issued by
STEA.
Article 25: Requirements for Securing
the Public Investment Project
The projects without an
environmental certificate will not
be approved.
4. Lessons Learned
EIA law is strengthened by approval
law.
Without changing the procedure of
project approval, EIA will not work.
Thank you very much.