IFC requires that this document is made available through the World Bank InfoShop and to the locally affected community no less than 30 days prior to project consideration by the IFC Board of Directors. The Summary of Project Information (SPI) also provides details of where the ERS has been made available to the locally affected community. The SPI must be sent to World Bank InfoShop no less than 30 days prior to project consideration by the IFC Board of Directors.

This is a Category B project according to IFC’s Procedure for Environmental and Social Review of Projects because a limited number of specific environmental and social impacts may result which can be avoided or mitigated by adhering to generally recognized performance standards, guidelines or design criteria. The review of this project consisted of appraising technical and environmental/social information submitted by the project sponsor. The following potential environment, social, health and safety impacts of the projects were analyzed: land acquisition; tower and base station site selection, permitting, and construction; impacts on environmentally or culturally sensitive areas; air emissions and noise abatement; hazardous materials use and disposal; solid and liquid waste treatment and disposal; worker health and safety; life and fire safety; and corporate environmental and social management systems.

The sponsor has presented plans to address these impacts and to ensure that the proposed project will, upon implementation of the specific agreed measures, comply with the environmental and social requirements; the host country laws and regulations; and the World Bank/IFC environment and social policies and the environmental, health and safety guidelines. The information about how these potential impacts will be addressed by the sponsor/project is summarized in the paragraphs that follow. Land Acquistion and site selection. The company's expansion plans are a total of 530 sites in the existing 10-year plan. The company primarily leases space for its antennae and base stations from land owners through a willing lessor/willing lessee relationship. It typically places its equipment on roof tops or existing structures to avoid cost, and most sites will be located within towns or cities. Thus, changes in on-the-ground land use are likely to be minimal. The company is aiming to minimize constriction of new roads, towers and stations in sensitive habitats or historical sites. Vodafone Albania, however, has given assurances that (i) new installations will minimize impacts on sensitive areas, such as national parks, forests, wetlands, or cultural sites and (ii) existing installations will be used where feasible. In identifying new sites, the company assesses potential impacts on the local neighborhood and minimizes them. The company performs sample measurements assessing compliance with electromagnetic emission standards and provides results on requests. Vodafone Albania has developed an extensive public education program about antennae and public health. Air emissions and noise abatement. Base station and tower sites have a number of generators that are running continuously, as there is no reliable power supply in some locations where Vodafone Albania has base stations. The generators are housed in their own noise-insulated structures and only operate in case of power failure. All of the generators are small in capacity and are considered under World Bank Group guidelines to have minimal impact on air emissions. Vodafone Albania will follow World Bank Group ambient noise guidelines. The company will follow a routine preventative maintenance schedule that ensures the generators operate according to manufacturers' specifications and, thus, minimizes the air emissions and ambient noise All solid and liquid waste management is carried out under maintenance and operations procedures that specify (i) containers for handling, transportation and disposal, and (ii) monitoring of actual practice to improve performance. Contractors must follow these procedures as well. Solid and liquid waste generated as part of the network installation and operations is limited and will be disposed of in accordance with local regulations. The equipment for the project does not use polychlorinated bi-phenols (PCBs) or chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The company will not install equipment that uses either of these substances. All fuel storage will have secondary containment. Vodafone Group is committed to monitoring its wastestream and using materials more efficiently. A recycling program for batteries is currently in place. To ensure adequate fire protection, all sites will have fire detection systems. For special areas, such as switch, control, and generator rooms, electronic fire extinguishing systems are in place. The company has a regular equipment inspection program in place that includes the testing of fire safety equipment. The company conducts regular drills for both fire and earthquakes. The company has an Environmental and Social Management Policy and Procedures Plan (ESMP) at the corporate level. Vodafone Albania will be following the same approach to worker health and safety as per the Vodafone Group policies and guidelines. This approach will include a continuous assessment of occupational risks and improvement in the internal procedures, a Safety Management System, and a company-wide definition of responsibilities and training programs to implement the Safety Management System. With respect to environmental management, the approach will focus on minimizing electromagnetic emissions, visual impact, and management of the solid waste stream. The ESMP will be a vehicle for transferring the best practices of Vodafone International to Vodafone Alabania

This ERS contains the full environmental and social documentation prepared for the project.

Accordingly, IFC concludes that the proposed project will meet the applicable World Bank/IFC environment and social policies and the environmental, health and safety guidelines upon successful implementation of the agreed mitigation measures.

IFC will evaluate the project's compliance with the applicable environmental and social requirements during the lifetime of the project by reviewing the annual monitoring reports (AMRs) prepared for the project covering: ongoing performance of project-specific environmental, health and safety and social activities as reflected in the results of periodic and quantitative sampling and measuring programs. Periodic site supervision visits will also be conducted.