The environmental and social risk (“E&S”) of the project has been classified as category B+ (in accordance with CI1’s risk categorisation) which is equivalent to International Finance Corporation (IFC) Category B. 

The project entails the rehabilitation and operation of existing power distribution infrastructure powered by renewable energy, utilizing pre-established Rights of Way (ROW).

For the development of the distribution infrastructure, there is no requirement for land acquisition or resettlement, and the project does not intersect with areas of cultural heritage or territories of Indigenous Peoples. Therefore, Performance Standards 5, 7, and 8 are not applicable. The potential environmental and social risks identified primarily around occupational health and safety (OHS), community safety during construction, and waste management are site-specific, reversible, and mitigable through established systems and management plans, including the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), Construction-ESMP (C-ESMP), and the broader Environmental, Social and Governance Management System (ESGMS). 

The generation component involves the construction of a 100 Mw Solar PV plant in Abuja state by Abuja Steel Mills Limited (ASML). Konexa is co-funding the construction of the 100 Mw facility, and will receive 60 Mw of generational capacity from the facility. IFC PS 1-6 is applicable to the project, with IFC PS 5 being triggered by economic displacement due to ongoing seasonal farming and nomadic activities at the site. There are no indigenous peoples or cultural heritage sites on the proposed site. Consequently, PS 7 and 8 are not triggered.