ESIA
Voltalia is an international renewable energy company committed to developing clean energy project in a responsible and sustainable manner. Conducting and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is an important part of this commitment, as it helps identify potential environmental and social impacts, understand stakeholder concerns, and integrate appropriate mitigation measures into project design and implementation.
Through the ESIA process, Voltalia aims to ensure that the Project is developed in a way that protects environment, respects local communities, promotes transparency, and aligns with both Albanian regulations and international environmental and social standards.
The ESIA was prepared by Abkons shpk, acting as an independent environmental consultant. The assessment examined the potential environmental and social effects of the Project and identified measures to avoid, reduce, or manage any adverse impacts.
The ESIA has been undertaken to:
- Assess potential environmental and social impacts of the Project.
- Inform stakeholders and decision-makers about the Project and its potential effects.
- Consider feedback from affected and interested parties.
- Identify appropriate measures to avoid, minimize, or manage impacts.
- Ensure Compliance with Albanian legislation and international environmental and social standards.
As part of the ESIA process, information and opinions from local communities, authorities, land users, and other interested stakeholders were collected and considered.
Stakeholder engagement is an important part of the assessment process and helps ensure that concerns, suggestions, and local knowledge are taken into account during Project planning and implementation.
The ESIA has been prepared in accordance with Albanian environmental requirements and relevant international standards, including those of international financial institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Because of the scale of the Project and its potential environmental and social impacts, a comprehensive assessment and public disclosure process has been undertaken.
The ESIA evaluates the potential effects of the Project during:
- Construction.
- Operation and maintenance.
- Future decommissioning, if applicable.
The assessment covers topics such as:
- Biodiversity and natural habitats.
- Land use and livelihoods.
- Community health and safety.
- Employment and local economic opportunities.
- Cultural heritage.
- Noise, traffic, and visual impacts.
The findings of the ESIA are used to develop management and monitoring measures that will be implemented throughout the Project lifecycle. These measures are intended to protect the environment, support local communities, and ensure the Project is developed responsibly.
Voltalia remains committed to maintaining transparency and engagement with stakeholders throughout the Project and to implementing the mitigation and monitoring measures identified through the ESIA process.
VNMS – ESIA Report
- The ESIA report is meant to identify and assess the potential environmental and social impacts associated with the development of the Project by conducting an objective and independent ESIA process, including relevant information and opinions of Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs) which have been collected and passed on to the Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MTE) and National Environmental Agency (NEA), to enable an informed decision-making process to take place.
- This ESIA Report presents the outcome from the ESIA process, presenting the identified potential impacts, outcomes from the engagement process, and makes recommendations for measures to mitigate and manage such impacts.
