Executive Summary

This is the Environmental and Social Impact Statement (ESIS) Report for the proposed upgrading to bituminous standard of approximately 98km of the Nampundwe – Muchabe Road (Blue Lagoon Road) (D534), the Kasalu – Keezwa Road (38.5km), the Situmbeko – Chimbotela Road (D535) (22.5km) and road RD554 (16km) giving a total of around 175km in Central Province of Zambia by the Road Development Agency (RDA).
In May 2023, Messrs Bicon Zambia Limited (Consultants) was commissioned by the RDA to carry out Detailed Design for the project and to provide construction supervision, are simultaneously carrying out an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) on the proposed upgrading to bituminous standard of the project roads. This is being done in line with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency’s (ZEMA) requirements, as stipulated in the Environmental Management Act of 2011 and Statutory Instrument No. 28 of 1997 (The Environmental Protection and Pollution Control (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, 1997), – the latter hereinafter referred to as the EIA Regulations, which requires that road works which are more than 10Km in length are subjected to a full Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
The EIA Regulations under Part II Clause 7 (2) (a) indicates that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required to be prepared for any project specified in the Second Schedule of the Regulations, or (b) for any alterations or extensions of any existing project specified in the Second Schedule. The Second Schedule of the Regulations, under Item 2 Transportation (a) specifies that “All major roads outside urban areas, the construction of new roads and major improvements over 10 Km in length and over 1 Km in length if the road passes through a national park or Game Management Area”.
The EIS (this Report) is being submitted on behalf of the developer (RDA) to the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) in fulfilment of the EIA Regulations.
It is being published and disclosed for comment as part of the process for finalizing and gaining regulatory approval. Following the comment Period, the ESIS will be updated to reflect comments made by stakeholders and information will be provided regarding how comments have been addressed. The final decision and version of the ESIS will be made publicly available.