Prof Raymond Lafitte

IHA

Presentation of the International Hydropower Association - IHA

Mr Chairman, ladies and gentleman.

I would have been pleased to come to this forum to support the WCD Report, and to begin the process of integrating its recommendations.

Unhappily, I have in the name of the International Hydropower Association, to address basic concerns on this document. I regret also to criticise a final document, because I am convinced that it would have been more profitable to provide comments on a draft. On two occasions we have suggested this process to Prof. Asmal, and this was not accepted.

The response of the IHA has been presented in a note addressed to the President of the World Bank at the beginning of February. This document is available to the members of the Forum.

I will not go into detail here according to the time allowed and also because we have contributed to the more detailed presentation of the Industry Group, which includes members of the IHA.

But first, to avoid any misunderstanding, I have to recall that our association is supporting the development of hydropower, that is to say dams and plants which are well planned, implemented and operated in respect of best practices as regards technical, economic, social and environmental aspects.

I am obliged to raise three main concerns of the WCD Report.

1. The report does not recognise the imperative necessity to continue to build dams during this century, especially in the developing countries. These countries will represent 7 billion inhabitants in 2050, demanding fresh water, food and energy.

Development and poverty alleviation is a core value of our association (and of the World Bank). It is not explicitly mentioned in the core values of the report.

2. With regard to the role of dams built during the last century, the overall tone of the Report is undoubtedly negative.

By barely addressing or recognising the benefits of reservoirs, the Report gives an unbalanced picture of the social, environmental and economic costs of dams.

Here, an opportunity has been lost, and an injustice has been done.

3. The conditions proposed in the recommendations for the planning and implementation of future dams are, in many instances, not realistic. They have not been subjected to the test of experience. Hastily imposing them as rules in developing countries would initiate a process of sustainable under-development.

On too many occasions, it appears that the role of governments and elected authorities is undermined. It is our strategic priority to recommend that a legal framework, when not in existence, should be put in place to address all political aspects including social and environmental issues relating to infrastructure.

The work of the Commission is seriously compromised by the fact that there is no consensus on the acceptability of the recommendations, in particular by developing countries (in which the majority of dams will have to be built during this century), among them: China, Iran, Laos, Thailand, Turkey and India - one third of humanity.

With good intentions, the Commission has accomplished a very important work. The Report, which is very well presented, contains a number of good ideas and constructive elements: the core values are shared by the IHA, and the strategic priorities are agreed in principle. It should also be noted that we support sustainable development and the alleviation of poverty.

The Report is a useful document; it has contributed to awareness of the challenges we face in the fields of water and energy security, and it is the catalyst for continued discussion.

The IHA has elaborated its position in a white paper, entitled: “Hydropower and the World’s Energy Future” in collaboration with the International Energy Agency and the Canadian Hydropower Association.

The IHA will continue its mission to promote hydropower which is implemented and operated in a socially, environmentally, economically and technically acceptable way. Good guidelines exist in many countries and also in financial agencies, especially the World Bank. However, we are available to contribute to the work of these countries and financing agencies to refine their guidelines if they wish.