IMPACT OF ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION LINES

ON MIGRATORY BIRDS IN UGANDA AND

MEASURES BEING UNDERTAKEN
Presented at Uganda Natural History Society
Symposium, Uganda Museum, 8th August 2015
Presented by
JOSEPH JONES OGWAL (MSc/BSc (For),
PGD (PPM), Prince2

SENIOR ENVIRONMENT OFFICER- UETCL

Joseph.ogwal@uetcl.com /
ogwaljoe@yahoo.com
+256 772 605550

Overview of the Energy Sector

Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development
Four Directorates-Energy Resources Devt (4 Departments: Renewable Energy,
Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Electrical Power, Nuclear Energy)
-Finance and Admin.
-Geological Surveys & Mines
-Petroleum

The Electricity Sector

The Electricity Act (1999) liberalized the
Electricity Sector
Uganda Electricity Board (UEB) was unbundled
into 4 entities

Generation (Uganda Electricity Generation Co. Ltd)-UEGCL

Transmission (Uganda Electricity Transmission Co. Ltd)-UETCL
Distribution (Uganda Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd)-UEDCL
Regulation (Electricity Regulatory Authority)-ERA
Rural Electrification Agency (REA)-created to implement govt plan
of extending power to rural area

The power sector is regulated by ERA.

Uganda Electricity Transmission Co. Ltd

UETCL commenced operations on 1st April 2001
Owned wholly by Govt of Uganda and has two
shareholders
Buys, transmits and sells bulk power produced
by IPPs-single buyer market modal
Operates high voltage transmission system
from 66 kV and above.
Holds licence from UCC to operate optical fibre
ground wire-OPGW (some telecom companies lease some of our
cores)

TRANSMISSION NETWORK AND

BIRDS

Important Bird areas in Uganda

Ugandan IBA system & T-line footprint

Total no. of IBAs: 34
12 National Parks are IBAs (only Karuma Reserve
(MFNP)-35 km, QENP- 52 km affected by UETCL investments)
9 Central Forest Reserves are IBAs (Mabira-16

km, Nabijoka, Mubuko, Bugoma , Bujawe affected by UETCL investments

10 Wetlands are IBAs (Ramsar sites)- No Ramsar

site is directly affected, but a line traverses Tilder area where waterfolws
congregate

2 Non-protected areas

T-line network and protected areas

Elements of a T-line line system

Wooden or steel lattice structures (max height about 35
meters)
Components include cross arms, Insulators, conductors
etc
Distance between phases: 2.5 M (132 kV), 4 M (220 KV)
Total network: About 1445 km
Substation
17 all over the country (without planned investments)

Impact of T-lines on migratory birds

Direct impacts
Accidental collisions (no. not known)- night time,
flocks etc

Electrocution (no. not known)

Disorientation (interference with magnetic
orientation)-needs to be proved!
Indirect impacts
Breeding-some birds use pylons for breeding
(alternative for high rise trees in urban areas)
Weed control along wayleaves-(some chemicals kill insects,

which are eaten by birds=accumulation of chemicals in food chain since some birds sit
on top of the food chain

)-needs research to confirm

Birds also affect transmission lines

Urea (ammonia) from their droppings corrode
the conductors reducing its lifespan (conductor
lifespan is between 30 to 50 years depending on load
growth).

Birds can disrupt power supply-esp. if they

cause two conductors to collide and explode!
Also a jet of urine from large birds can cause
power outages
They increase O & M cost- (substations)
Droppings-nuisance

Impact of T-lines on migratory birds may

be insignificantbecause of
Hunting pressure in communities where birds are
eaten-these may not be documented??
Bush Fires-smoke can cause change in migrations-what
happens thereafter??

High rise buildings / telephone masts-collisions??

Habitat loss-wetlands /forests degradation is increasing,
population projected to increase to 100 M by 2050???

Poisoning-insecticides at flower farms /rice fields

Control-remember aerial spraying of quelia birds in kibimba by
Ministry of Agriculture

Migratory routes with illegal hunting in Europe

and Africa

Specific action on birds during operation

All new projects (study phase);
ToR for EIA is specific on fauna
EIA reports (bird studies standalone reports)
Mitigation provides measures for birds
Design interventions (conductors, insulators and cross-arms)
EMP becomes part of tender documents and hence the contract (with EPC
contractors)
Installing bird diverters along known pathways
Routing lines in open landscapes, along roads etc to increase visibility
Installing anti-perching devices on cross-arms/insulators to prevent
electrocution
Design to ensure wide clearance > 60 cm between insulators and cross-arms
Use of Long suspended insulators makes electrocution risk very low
Use of bird rejecter's above insulators to rejection urination effects that can
cause outages and risk of electrocution
Use of underground cables is the most ideal- but very expensive (cost /KM is
over 7.5 Million USD per phase at 400 KV X 3 just one for circuit)
Monitoring by lead agencies?

Diverters on conductors to prevent collision

Diverters for birds on

R. Nile (Masindi port)

Flight diverters & Flappers

Anti-perching devices & suspended insulators on

cross-arms to prevent electrocution
Insulators suspended
away from cross-arms
reduce risk of contact

Anti-perching prevents
birds from standing on
cross-arms

UETCL Project Cycle and integration

of Environmental and Social
Safeguard Measures-which include
birds

Stage 1: Project Initiation

Compliance mechanism

Implications for Biodiversity

Preliminary site visits by

project team & lenders
Project categorization (A, B, C)
Preparation of Terms of
Reference (ToR) for ESIA
Obtaining NEMA approval on
TOR
Seeking financiers No
Objection on ToR

Key sensitivities identified

Biodiversity hots identified
Nature of expertize needed
among consultants known
Financiers concerns
integrated in ToR (funding
may be withheld if
sensitivity is detected)
NEMA concerns integrated
in ToR

NB: THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE

FOLLOWED

Joint site visits (JICA study team during ToR preparation and
Appraisal for Ayago Interconnection project)

Stage 2: Feasibility studies

Compliance mechanisms

Implications for biodiversity

FIVE levels of disclosure of

PROJECT INTENTIONS AND
LIKELY IMPACTS;
Approval of ToR (NEMA,
fiananciers)
Scooping (external
stakeholders)
Review of draft reports
(internal review by uetcl team
+ lenders)
Public disclosures (online,
NEMA library etc)
Approval of revised final
reports (mandatory review by
NEMA + lead agencies)

Use of MCA critical

Findings influence
engineering designs
Project financing may be
delayed unless some issues
are addressed
All stakeholder interests
are addressed
Gaps, omissions rectified
Report tested

Stage 3: Implementation
Actions towards compliance
Project financing tied to NEMA
approval of ESIA
Once approved, NEMA
certificate becomes part of the
tender documents for EPC
Preparation of SEAP
(contractors bid and during
implementation)
Obtaining all needed permits
(forests, wetlands, roads,
waste discharge)
Monitoring (NEMA team, uetcl
officers) and reporting

Implication for migratory birds

Project design modified to
suit the environment eg
use of monopoles in
wetlands, use of bird
diverters / flaps
Routes aligned to avoid
sensitive areas (as much as
possible)
Implementation of offsets
(paying lead agencies
equivalent value)

Monitoring by financiers
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
MONITORING CONSTRUCTION
OF TORORO LIRA LINE. THE
CONTRACTOR WILL INSTALL
BIRD DIVERTORS ON THE LINE

WORLD BANK SITE

VISIT TO ISIMBA OVER
KALAGALA OFFSET

Stage 4: Close out / commissioning

Post project monitoring
Lessons learnt
Refine ToR for other upcoming assignments

Environmental safeguard protocols

followed

The National Environment Act Cap 153, 1995

The Constitution, 1995
The Land Act, Cap 227
The Natural Forests & Tree Planting Act, Cap ,
2003
The Wildlife Act, Cap 200, 2000
The Electricity Act, Cap 145, 1999
The EIA regulations, 1998
The Investment Code, no. 18, 1991
Other sectorial laws, etc

International environmental and social

safeguards applied by UETCL
Generally the Equator Principals are followed
Project categorization-Category A, B, C follows defined categories as
required
World Bank: 11 Operational / Bank Procedures (OP/BP) applicable
International Finance Cooperation (IFC): 8 Performance Standards
African Development Bank: 5 Operational Safeguards (OS)
applicable
JBIC (JICA): 7 Guidelines (Environmental and Social considerations)
NORAD: Follows World Bank safeguards
French Development Agency (AFD): Follows World Bank safeguards
Asian Development Bank:
Islamic Development bank:

Applicable Conventions and treaties

followed (specific birds)
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)provides for offsets / compensation etc

Convention on Migratory species (CMS)provides for protection of species including

Palearctic migrants / waterfowls etc

African Eurasian Migratory Water bird

Agreement (AEWA)-supplements CMS
The Ramsar Convention on wetlands-provides
for protection of habitats & flyways etc

Examples of projects UETCL has paid for

biodiversity offsets
Bujagali Interconnection Project (founded by World Bank, JICA, AfDA,
GoU), 220 kV line
Payment of about 680 Million to NFA for biodiversity
and environmental services affected in Mabira forests
Obtaining permits (wetlands, forests, roads, pollution)
Developing and implementing KALAGALA OFFSET PLAN
+ sustainable management plan-includes specific action
on birds
Environmental monitoring committee (NEMA + lenders)
Environmental audit (several lender missions )

Examples continued
Mbarara Nkenda Project (founded by AfDB, GoU), 132 kV line
Payment of 1 million USD to UWA for
biodiversity offset, footprint reduction in QENP
Signing MoU with UWA before construction
starts and payment of required fees
Payment to NFA for impact on land in Kashyokatomi (plantation section)
Diverting line to avoid Kalinzu forests
Obtaining wetland permits
Change of tower design (monopoles) + greening
+ reflectors for birds/aircraft

Examples continued
Kawanda Masaka 220 kV Transmission line project
(founded by World Bank, GoU)
Payment of 29,163,160 to NFA for lost
biodiversity services, including tourism for
Nabijoka forests
Wetland and forest permits
Nkenda-Hoima-Fortal 220 kV Transmission line
project (founded by French Devt Agency)
Payment of 1.56 Billion to NFA for impact on
parts of Bugoma, Bujawe and Mobuku CFRs
Wetland permits obtained
Some conditions tied to Oil devt since it will
transmit from Mputta.

Examples cont.
Payment of Environmental fees to NEMA
For all projects under implementation, UETCL
has paid environmental fees to NEMA as part
of the pre-approval requirement.
In several millions of shillings

Challenges
Lack of shared specific information-migration
routes, endangered species, worst seasons etc
Post construction monitoring still weak- role
of DEOs minimal (someone should take a
lead)
Birds also affect power lines-ammonia in their
droppings lead to corrosion of structures,
reducing lifespan of investments
Monitoring effective use of money paid to
lead agencies??

Opportunities
WE NEED ELECTRICITY FOR DEVT, WE ALSO NEED
THE BIRDS FOR TOURISM REVENUE- we need to
reflect on the National Devt Plan and
Vision2040.
You are not alone in conservation- we are on
payroll for the same service
We need to strengthen monitoring plans (how
many birds, where and ecological factors)
NEMA / district coordination- forum needed
Opportunities for researchers to answer
unknown questions (which bird spp, which
season, which area, what interventions etc)

END OF PRESENTATION