The sponsor has presented plans and commitments to address these impacts 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.
- Labor Issues: given that the hotel was formerly government owned and run, concerns were raised by employees regarding future employment. Representatives of HI and the National Syndacat (read Union) participated fully in the meetings between the privatization committee and SBPH, and have agreed to post-privatization employment terms. All staff have been retained and given contracts for one year. A reduction in staff is not planned at the moment, though this could occur depending on the economic performance of the hotel. Staff will be retained and promoted based on employee performance criteria discussed between SBPH, staff representatives and staff. As per the Concession Agreement, the government maintains responsibility for severance payments/retrenchment only upto when SBPH took over the hotel in 2004. SBPH is responsible for any severance accrued thereafter. A Commitee de Suivi (follow up committee) was set up by the Privatization Commission to ensure that the privatization is properly implemented. Ongoing consultation will be maintained by the company as per national law and their commitments under the concession.
- Sewage Treatment/Disposal: the project entails the connection of the hotel to the municipal wastewater treatment works of Ougadougoug operated by the Office National De L’Eau Et De Assainissement (ONEA). ONEA have a complete treatment system with anaerobic and aerobic stages including 30 day retention. SBPH will obtain confirmation from ONEA that they have the capacity to handle the hotel’s waste (from all point sources – i.e., rooms, public areas, kitchens and laundry etc.) and will also install any pre-treatment that ONEA requires (e.g., settlement tanks or oil and grease separators etc.). Any dry cleaning solvents must be recovered and returned to the supplier by SBPH.
- Solid waste disposal: special areas will be designated and constructed for the storage of all solid waste. Preliminary sorting will be done, to separate biodegradable waste from other solids. No hazardous waste will be generated and wastes such as glass and plastic will be handled by the informal sector for recycling. The sponsor has hired an authorized private contractor to collect the oils and grease, which are separated prior to effluent treatment, and solid waste for proper disposal in a landfill according to local laws and regulations.
- Power and water supply: the water supply and electricity will be provided by the city/national mains and grid. Emergency electric power will be provided with on-site diesel generators. Fuel tanks must be provided with secondary containment and if generators/tanks are located underground, then these must be lined with concrete and access through manholes provided for inspection and maintenance purposes. SBPH must also ensure that the drinking water supplied to staff and guests and water used in food preparation meets WHO standards. If the water from the national mains does not meet WHO standards, SBPH will install appropriate filtration systems.
- CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons): no new CFC based equipment will be installed and existing CFC based equipment must be phased out in accordance with Burkina Faso’s commitments under the Montreal Protocol.
- Energy/Resource efficiency: the hotel will employ low flow shower heads to economize on water use and will also install akeycard system to ensure room electric supply is only active when the room is in use.
- Fire protection and life safety: an independent Fire and Life Safety Audit will be completed by SBPH and all aspects of fire safety (including passive and active systems: e.g., egress, alarms, detection, training, signage etc.) will be upgraded to ensure compliance with local and IFC requirements. Upon completion of installation of equipment and any necessary structural changes a follow-up independent assessment will be completed to ensure satisfactory completion.
- Employee safety and training: all staff, relative to their job functions will be provided with appropriate training on correct work procedures, including, but not limited to, material storage, hygiene, safety. Each employee will receive an annual medical examination and those involved in food preparation will receive more frequent examinations as per local law
- Employee Safety and Training The sponsor has developed an emergency response and evacuation plan. The plan will address emergency response coordination with local authorities, personnel training and regular drills to address emergency situations of various magnitudes. In addition. This ERS will be made available, in English and French, at hotel premises, SBPH offices, and the Ougadougou City Municipal offices. Availability of the ERS at these locations will be advertised in a local newspaper.
