While all Performance Standards are applicable to this investment, IFCs environmental and social due diligence indicates that the investment will have impacts which must be managed in a manner consistent with the following Performance Standards. If IFCs investment proceeds, IFC will periodically review the the project’s ongoing compliance with the Performance Standards

PS 1 – Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts
PS 2 - Labor and working conditions
PS 3 - Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention
PS 4 – Community Health, Safety and Security
PS 6 – Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources
If IFC’s investment proceeds, IFC will periodically review the the project’s ongoing compliance with the Performance Standards

This is a Category B project according to IFC’s Environmental & Social Review Procedure as the E&S impacts associated with the project are limited, generally site-specific and could be addressed through the implementation of standard good international industry practices. The land on which the project will be located was leased from a single private land owner in March 2014 for a 20-year period. Although land quality is not ideal for grazing or agriculture, some local herders may pass through the proposed project area to access grazing lands. The area is intersected by small intermittent river beds (wadis), the main wadi being Al Zarnouq. There was no involuntary land acquisition, therefore PS5 on Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement is not considered applicable to this proposed investment. There are no Indigenous Peoples in the project area, and therefore PS7 on Indigenous Peoples is not applicable. An on-site survey did not reveal cultural heritage, therefore PS8 on Cultural Heritage is not applicable.

IFC's appraisal considered the environmental and social management planning process and documentation for the project and gaps, if any, between these and IFCs requirements. Where necessary, corrective measures, intended to close these gaps within a reasonable period of time, are summarized in the paragraphs that follow and (if applicable) in an agreed Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP). Through the implementation of these measures, the project is expected to be designed and operated in accordance with Performance Standards objectives.

Environmental and Social Management System



The project’s environmental and social management system (ESMS) will largely consist of an E&S Policy and H&S Policy, an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) with monitoring actions, an overarching system for reporting and tracking non-compliances, and an organizational framework. A preliminary Environment Management Plan (EMP) has been developed and will be expanded to meet PS1 requirements once additional assessments are conducted (see sub-section below on ‘Environment and Social Assessment’). The update of the EMP, the development of the project’s E&S related policies (that are specific to project activities in Jordan, reviewed and approved by the developer’s Managing Director and applicable to the Environment, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor / Operations and Maintenance (O&M) provider and sub-contractors), and the development of a system for reporting and tracking non-compliances are included under ESAP Action Item number (#) 1. An emergency preparedness and response plan and a stakeholder engagement plan (SEP) will also be part of the ESMS.





Environmental and Social Assessment



The draft EIA was prepared by a local consulting company (Shamil Engineering) according to the requirements of the Jordanian Environmental protection law no. 52 / 2006. The draft EIA included a review of the legislative and regulatory environment, including the roles of agencies and authorities, and references were made to international conventions and protocols. The project’s activities, infrastructure and technology were included. Potential risks and impacts were identified, and an assessment of project alternatives (of the solar PV site) was included. Mitigation and monitoring measures were included in the accompanying EMP.



As described in ESAP Action Item #2, the developer will use a suitably experienced consulting firm to strengthen its draft EIA for the PV project site to bring it into alignment with IFC’s Performance Standards, namely with respect to the stakeholder engagement, EIA disclosure and dissemination, the social assessment and the biodiversity assessment. The requirements for EIA disclosure and dissemination and the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) are included below in the section on ‘Client’s Community Engagement’. The social assessment will include a review and assessment of potential project-related impacts on herding communities, including semi-nomadic Bedouin communities. As part of this assessment, the project will conduct a stakeholder mapping exercise to identify and consult with local communities, herding communities and other relevant stakeholders that are knowledgeable about grazing practices in the project area and its surroundings (this task will be included also as part of the development of a SEP). The project will identify, as far as possible, the routes of herders (considering also seasonal use) to grazing areas (through direct consultation
and/or through a knowledgeable third party). Based on this, the project will also determine the importance of the project with respect to grazing areas (or access to such areas) and the existence of alternative routes. Mitigation measures will be identified as needed. The biodiversity assessment is described in the section below on PS 6 – Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources.



The developer is initiating a separate ESIA for the transmission line ROW. The ESIA for the transmission line will include a scoping session, alternatives analysis, impact assessment and identification of mitigation and management measures.





Management Program



The draft EIA contains an EMP for the construction and the operations phases of the project. Management actions include solid waste management, soil management, dust control, site security and traffic safety amongst other topics. The EMP includes a separate section on monitoring actions, frequency of monitoring, performance indicators and the responsible entity. As mentioned above in the sub-section on ‘Environmental and Social Management System’, the EMP will be expanded once additional assessment work has been conducted.



JSO will ensure that the EPC contractor / O&M provider workers understand the requirements, measures, and protocols stipulated within the ESMP. They will also ensure that all E&S personnel are competent to carry out their duties, or, where necessary, arrange for suitable training to be undertaken.



Organization



JSO will procure an Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Officer to follow both the construction and operations phase of the project. In addition, there will be one on-site EHS officer for the construction phase (contracted to the EPC contractor) and one EHS officer during operation based off-site (contracted to the O&M provider), as identified in ESAP Action Item #3. Additional EHS support staff may be procured during the construction phase, as necessary, to ensure that environmental management practices are carried out. A community liaison officer will be retained for both the construction and operations phase and will report to the JSO EHS officer. The community liaison officer will develop and implement a local benefits community action plan and will manage the community grievance mechanism. The JSO EHS officer will be responsible for the implementation of the ESMP, including monitoring actions.



Monitoring and reporting



Monitoring requirements will be included in the ESMP for the construction and the operations phase the project as mentioned in the sub-section above on ‘Management Program’ in this document.



Emergency Preparedness and Response



Emergency preparedness and response procedures including fire risk assessment and control systems, fire alarm systems and drills, emergency preparedness and planning, among related topics will be prepared as part of Occupational H&S Procedures for both the
construction and operation phases. As mentioned in the ‘Occupational Health and Safety’ sub-section in PS2 such procedures will be designed to be specific to the project site (referencing muster point, nearby emergency facilities, responsible entities on-site or in the region, etc.).

The developer will employ 120 workers during construction and 19 workers during operations. All jobs are projected to be offered to Jordanian nationals.



As identified in ESAP Action Item #4, the developer will put in place a Human Resources Policy and Procedures in line with IFC’s Performance Standard 2 and with Jordanian labor law. Given the nature of the industry, the Human Resources policy and procedures will place emphasis on the management of contractors and will apply to the EPC contractor / O&M provider and sub-contractors. The HR policy and procedures will stipulate that the terms of employment, such as wages and benefits, hours of work, overtime arrangements and overtime compensation, annual and sick leave, maternity and paternity leave, vacation and holiday, are established according to national labor regulations, and will be included in employee contracts. Additional workers’ benefits for full-time operations staff will include health insurance and medical assistance, among others. Working conditions (including health, safety and security), employee termination, prohibition to employ minors, disciplinary actions, workers’ rights and obligations, employer’s rights and obligations will also referenced.



As also indicated in ESAP Action Item #4, the developer will ensure that the Human Resource Policy and Procedures as developed by the EPC contractor / O&M provider are consistent with their own Human Resources related documents.



In line with Performance Standard 2, the developer’s Human Resources Policy will not impede workers from freedom of association and collective bargaining. Although Jordan is not a signatory to the ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, workers will be able to organize among themselves and will not be discriminated against for doing so, as will be specified in the Human Resources Policy and Procedures.



The developer is committed to avoid all forms of discrimination against its employees, based on the age, gender, sexual orientation, health, race, nationality, political opinions or religious beliefs of its counterparties. The requirements of non-discrimination and equal opportunities will be extended to all contractors and subcontractors as part of contractual obligations.



The developer’s Human Resources Policy will exclude the use of any form of forced or compulsory labor, in accordance with national law and IFC PS 2.



As indicated in ESAP Action Item #5, training for direct and indirect workers will be covered in the developer’s Human Resources procedures. Induction training on the Human Resources Policy and Procedures and basic safety awareness training will be provided to all newly hired workers. Other types of technical skills training will be identified for staff on an as-need basis.



As indicated in ESAP Action Item #6, the project will develop and make available a grievance mechanism for workers. The developer will inform
the workers of the grievance mechanism, through the EPC contractor / O&M provider and otherwise, and describe how to make use of it during the induction training. The grievance mechanism will also be accessible to other contractors and subcontractors performing work in core business processes of the project.



Occupational Health and Safety



Key occupational health and safety (OHS) risks for a PV project include slips and falls, potential hazards from on-site moving machinery, heavy load lifting, exposure to electric shocks and burns and safety issues related to PV module assembly. Taking into account the hot and arid project site, construction workers might be at risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke if not hydrated properly.



As identified in ESAP Action Item #7, JSO will ensure that the EPC contractor and O&M provider develop a site-specific OHS Procedure for the construction and operations phase. The procedure will be designed to be specific to the PV solar sector (in terms of industry specific hazards) and the project site. The OHS Procedures will also include location-specific emergency preparedness and response procedures.



The developer will also ensure that the EPC contractor / O&M provider assess and track their OHS performance during both construction and operations. OHS performance evaluations will be carried out for employees considering lagging (or trailing / downstream) indicators and leading (or upstream) indicators. The E&S focal point will record and track any OHS incidents through an incident tracker and will report on OHS performance during both construction and operation phase.

Given that the project involves PV rather than Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology, water consumption is expected to be minimal. The type of module cleaning method is under investigation. As part of this review, the sponsor will assess alternative cleaning methods, including the use of dry cleaning, which is preferable as it would minimize water use.



Both solid and hazardous waste generated by the projects during construction will be minimal. Solid (paper, wood, plastic, scrap metals, glass, mud and food waste) and hazardous (absorbent material, batteries, tires, metal drums, empty chemical containers and waste oil from machinery lubricants) waste streams will be segregated and volumes recorded. Solid waste collection will be managed by a licensed third party and disposal will take place in the municipal and construction waste landfills designated by the municipality of Mafraq. During operation, waste generated will be limited to wastewater from maintenance and cleaning activities in addition to domestic waste. Waste management procedures are included in the EMP. Hazardous waste will be collected by a licensed third party and disposed of in a Hazardous Waste Treatment Center, the nearest center being at Ekeder, 6km north west of the project site. Hazardous materials will be stored in a dedicated area; a register will be maintained and Material Safety Data Sheets displayed.



The project is expected to generate approximately 48 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity per year. Jordan’s current carbon dioxide emission performance (from fuel combustion) is 0.64kg carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour (CO2/kWh) (according to International Energy Statistics, 2013). Using this factor, the project is estimated to reduce 30,720 tons of CO2-eq/year.



The developer is required in the PPA and the ground lease to return the project site to its baseline condition prior to construction of the PV plant. The PPA requires the developer to provide financial security that would meet the cost of decommissioning the facility in the event that the developer does not meet its obligations. In practice, the salvage value of the PV plant components will likely exceed the costs of decommissioning, thereby incentivizing the developer to decommission, beyond its legal obligations. All components and equipment for the site will be transported to a designated location for resale, recycling, or disposal in accordance with local by-laws and regulations. The residual value of the equipment (metal, wiring, photovoltaic panels) mean that it is unlikely that equipment will be disposed of. The PPA agreement specifies that NEPCO will apply, register and benefit from carbon credits.

A licensed private security company will be hired by the developer to manage security of the project. The developer will ensure that key elements of PS 4 are implemented, as follows: when the developer retains the security provider to safeguard its personnel and property, it will assess risks posed by its security arrangements to those within and outside the project site, including the residents of the nearest villages and semi-nomadic Bedouin herders and nearby Zaatari Syrian refugee camp. In making such arrangements, the developer will be guided by the principles of proportionality and good international practice in relation to hiring, rules of conduct, training, equipping, and monitoring of such workers, and by applicable law. The developer will make reasonable inquiries to ensure that those providing security are not implicated in past abuses; will train them adequately in the use of force (and where applicable, firearms), and appropriate conduct toward workers and nearby communities; and require them to act within the applicable law. The developer will not sanction any use of force except when used for preventive and defensive purposes in proportion to the nature and extent of the threat. These safeguards will be captured in a Security Management Plan that includes a training module for security staff, as included in ESAP Action Item #8. The developer will provide a grievance mechanism for nearby communities to express concerns about the security arrangements and acts of security personnel, as highlighted below in ESAP Action Item #11.

The project site and surroundings are located in the Irano-turanian biogeographic region, which is characterized by steppe vegetation dominated by dwarf shrubs and annual grasses. As part of the EIA, a literature review and desktop analysis of flora and fauna in the region was conducted along with on-site flora and fauna surveys. With the exception of a threatened Iris species, flora and fauna, including avifauna, distributed across the project site appear to be common in Jordan. The project site is considered modified habitat due to degradation that had occurred by grazing activities in the past. Birds, including migratory birds, associated with the site are as follows: purple heron (Ardea purpurea), white stork (Ciconia ciconia), common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto), laughing dove (Stigmatopelia senegalensis), desert lark (Ammomanes deserti), crested lark (Galerida cristata). These species are listed as Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.



The project site is located within the southern edge of the Irbid - Mafraq plains Important Bird Area (IBA), and the 30 kV transmission lines ROW will pass through this area. Proposed by BirdLife International in 2000 due to the presence of threatened species, many areas of this IBA have been degraded due to agricultural activities and the expansion of human settlements that have occurred since this time. Indeed the town of Buwaida with a population of approximately 7,500 inhabitants is located within the IBA itself, near to the project site. For this reason, the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), the local BirdLife International partner, will be re-defining the IBA boundaries of this and other IBAs in Jordan as part of nation-wide update.



Although certain biodiversity-related mitigations are currently included in the EMP (e.g., erosion and dust control, footprint minimization), further assessment is needed to determine the potential regularity of occurrence of the species associated with the IBA. As indicated in ESAP Action Item #9, the developer will conduct a biodiversity assessment that includes the following components: (i) a targeted surveys of the use of species associated with the IBA on the project site and the transmission line ROW, including a survey of habitat features of importance to such species (in the likely event that the species themselves will not be identified in a limited field survey); (ii) consultation with and involvement of regional specialists on the particular bird species of concern and with conservation organizations, including, but not limited to the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN); (iii) further review of good practice associated with solar projects including guidance developed by BirdLife International; (iv) the development of a pre-construction survey; (v) design of a monitoring progr
am to be implemented during the first two years of the operational phase to determine no-net-loss of species of concern. If significant adverse impacts on birds are identified within the first two years of monitoring, the project commits to identifying other measures (implementing conservation actions in other parts of the IBA) to demonstrate no-net-loss of bird species of concern.



The project also commits to conducting an alternatives analysis as part of the ESIA for the routing of the transmission line and will prioritize development on existing degraded corridors. Where sections of the transmission line are overhead, the project will install and maintain bird flight deflectors, for the life of the project, as included in ESAP Action Item #10.

Preliminary efforts on community consultation were included in the EIA. This included the circulation of a questionnaire to a selected set of individuals in the municipality of Husha during a two-day visit. Answers to the questionnaire were collected during in-person interviews, meetings and telephone conversations. The individuals were selected to represent different interests (e.g., agricultural sector, educational system). The questionnaire included information on the project description and objectives and was designed to gather individuals’ opinions on the project development (including job creation) and project-related impacts. The main concerns raised by respondents were whether the project would create job opportunities offered to communities outside the project area only rather than locally, and how electricity prices will be affected as a result of the project’s operation.

The developers will be conducting a formal scoping session, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, with a broader set of stakeholders, including communities, civil society organizations and environmental organizations. The scoping session is projected to be held mid- to late- August and results will be incorporated into the final EIA. As included in ESAP Action Item #11, JSO will develop a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), which includes a stakeholder identification and analysis (also as mentioned in the ‘Environment and Social Assessment sub-section of PS1), the project’s approach to EIA disclosure and dissemination and the development of a grievance mechanism for local communities in compliance with PS1. The SEP will cover public consultation activities with respect to the project and the transmission line ROW.

JSO also plans to develop a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program using input from the scoping session in order to serve the local community on a wider scale. CSR efforts may include support for vocational training at an existing training facility as well as other initiatives directly relevant to community interests.

Roberto Ricci
Vice President
AMP Solar Group
55 Port Street East
Port Credit, ON, L5G 4P3
Canada
Office: +1 905-271-7800 ex 237
Mob: +1 416-617-8077
Fax: +1 905-271-7801
Email: mailto:rricci@ampsolargroup.com
http://www.ampsolargroup.com

Broad Community Support is not applicable for this project

Title	Anticipated Completion Date	Status	Comments	Completion Date
Jordan Solar One (JSO) will develop a fit-for-purpose Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) that consists of an Environmental and Social (E&S) Policy and Health and Safety (H&S) Policy, an updated Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) with monitorng actions and an overarching system for reporting and tracking non-compliances.	11/30/2014	Completed	Completed	12/22/2015
JSO will use a suitably experienced consultant to strengthen its draft EIA to bring it into alignment with PS1, including a review and assessment of potential project-related impacts on herding communities, including semi-nomadic Bedouin communities.	11/30/2014	Completed	Completed	10/08/2015
JSO will ensure that there is an on-site Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) officer during construction, and support staff, included a community liaison officer, as needed; and, one EHS officer during operation based off-site.	11/30/2014	Completed	Completed	02/17/2015
JSO will develop a Human Resources Policy and Procedures in line with IFC’s Performance Standard 2 and with Jordanian labor laws and will ensure that the Human Resource Policy and Procedures as developed by EPC contractor / O&M provider are consistent with commitments made in their own Human Resources related documents.	11/30/2014	Completed	Completed	05/31/2015
JSO will ensure that basic training on Human Resource policies and procedures are provided as part of induction and will ensure that the EPC contractor / O&M provider provides an overarching E&S training to all employees and contractors.	11/30/2014	Completed	Completed	05/31/2015
JSO will develop and make available a grievance mechanism for workers.	11/30/2014	Completed	Completed	05/31/2015
JSO will ensure that a site-specific Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Procedure is developed for the construction and operations phases of the project.	11/30/2014	Completed	Completed	02/17/2015
JSO will develop a Security Management Plan (SMP), including a training module for security staff, that aligns with the requirements of Performance Standard 4.	11/30/2014	Completed	Completed	09/21/2015
JSO will use a suitably experienced consultant to, in consultation with regional specialist and relevant environmental organization, to conduct a biodiversity assessment.	11/30/2014	Completed	Completed	08/22/2015
JSO will develop a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), which includes a stakeholder identification and analysis, the project’s approach to disclosure and dissemination of the Environmental Impact Assessment and the development of a grievance mechanism for local communities in compliance with PS1.	09/01/2014	Completed	Completed	08/06/2015