The ECOWAS-Regional Electricity Access Project (REAP), a part of a Series of Projects (SOP) being implemented within the ECOWAS region, with a long-term view to achieving electricity distribution expansion within the Region. Funded by the IDA/World Bank, the SOP aims to increase the number of people in West Africa with access to reliable and affordable electricity, as articulated in the ECOWAS White Paper of 2006 for Increasing Access to Energy Services to People of the Sub-region. The SOP consists of two Phases, which plan to provide 2.5 million people across six countries in West Africa, namely Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Mali, Senegal, Mauritanie and The Gambia with electricity. Phase I of the SOP is to provide access to 1.1 million people in Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and The Gambia. This Phase will finance the expansion of Medium Voltage (MV) and Low Voltage (LV) networks from the two high-voltage 225/33 kV substations (in Soma, Lower River Region–LRR, and in Brikama, in West Coast Region–WCR) being built under the OMVG1 Energy Project. It is expected that this will transform the power sectors of these countries and enable them to achieve their common objective of delivering more power to more consumers. Specifically, the scope of the works will include: *

1. Construction of 532 KM 33/30 kV Medium Voltage (MV) lines.
2. Construction of distribution substations of 33/30 kV / 400 Volts (V).
3. Construction of 1200 KM 400 V Low Voltage (LV) lines.
4. Construction of 1200 KM 400 V Low Voltage (LV) lines.

Mission:

ASF Consulting has mobilized Mrs. Awatef Siala Fourati to held the position of Senior Environmental Expert within the Regional Coordination Unit of ECOWAS. The main activities conducted by Mrs. Awatef are providing assistance to the contractors and review of the E&S Safeguards documents :

• ESIA and RAP of the Transmission and Distribution Network of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project (REAP) from the Brikama Sub-Station
• ESIA and RAP of the Transmission and Distribution Network of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project (REAP) from the Soma Sub-Station
• Documents prepared by the contractor (ESMP-C, EHS, Onsite emergency plan)