World Congress on Advancing Sustainable Hydropower - Highlights for 27 May 2007 Training Course

World Congress on Advancing Sustainable Hydropower
Antalya, Turkey | 29-31 May, 2007


Preliminary Events
Sun 27 May
Mon 28 May
World Congress
Tue 29 May
Wed 30 May
Thu 31 May
Summary	HTM	PDF
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International Hydropower Association Hosts
Sustainability Assessment Training Course

Above: Workshop participants listened to a presentation by Peter Leonard.

On Sunday, 27 May, the International Hydropower Association (IHA) presented a sustainable hydropower training course in Antalya, Turkey, as a precusor to the World Congress on Advancing Sustainable Hydropower, which will be convened from 29-31 May. Sixty-six participants and nine trainers from thirty-one countries were presented information on the general concept of sustainability, specific sustainability concerns in hydropower, and the IHA Guidelines and Sustainability Assessment Protocol (SAP), and participated in exercises throughout the day.

The course was facilitated by Andrew Scanlon of the IHA and Hydro Tasmania Consulting, Teale McFarlane and Amanda Banks of Hydro Tasmania Consulting, Karin Seelos, Claude Tessier and Peter Leonard of Hydro Québec, Tormod Schei of Statkraft, Pravin Karki of the IHA and Joe Mulligan of Cambridge University.

After a welcome and introductions by Andrew Scanlon and Teale McFarlane, the day began with an introduction to the concept of sustainability by Karin Seelos. Following several presentations on specific elements and examples of sustainability in hydropower, participants broke into facilitated discussion groups to identify and discuss key sustainability priorities for hydropower.

In late morning, Scanlon introduced the IHA Guidelines and Sustainability Assessment Protocol, highlighting the benefits of sustainability to the hydropower industry, and McFarlane described the use of the SAP in auditing aspects of hydropower. Participants again broke into facilitated groups to discuss the development of questions for sustainability assessment.

In the afternoon, each breakout group was led by different facilitators through three exercises based on actual case studies, discussing assessment criteria and role-playing assessment and auditing scenarios. Participants then completed written evaluations of the training while the facilitators shared their views on the outcomes of the exercises. Anita Utseth, Deputy Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Norway, presented participants with certificates of participation. In the evening, participants gathered in the Teras Restaurant at the Tayla Hotel for dinner.

Sunday 27 May
Sustainability and Hydropower
Andrew Scanlon welcomed participants and introduced the presenters.	Teale McFarlane presented the course schedule for the day.	Karin Seelos explained the concept of sustainability, and its environmental, economic and social aspects.
Claude Tessier presented on environmental and fisheries impacts of hydropower expansion on the Toulnustuc River in Québec.	Joe Mulligan presented on impacts of the Kariba Dam on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, the Tucuruí Dam in Brazil, and the Pak Mun Dam in Thailand.	Pravin Karki presented on hydropower's impact on sediment, using the example of Jhimruk Hydropower Plant, Nepal.
Tormod Schei described how Statkraft calculated economic benefits of hydropower expansion in the Helgeland district of Norway.	Andrew Scanlon reviewed possible negative impacts of hydropower, including flooding and degraded water quality.	Peter Leonard presented on the Bersimis hydropower complex in Québec and relations with local indigenous communities.
Tormod Schei facilitated one table's discussions of key priorities for sustainability in hydropower.
IHA Guidelines, the SAP, and Auditing Using the SAP
	Left: Andrew Scanlon introduced the IHA's Sustainability Assessment Protocol and explained how assessment scores are derived for new and existing hydropower projects. Right: Teale McFarlane described the process of auditing, and introduced an exercise in development of questions for sustainability assessment.
Amanda Banks facilitated one table's discussions during the exercise on development of questions for sustainability assessment.
Questions and Comments
Barbara Fischer-Aupperle, Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation, asked whether the IHA was moving toward certifying sustainable hydropower.	Ann Kathrin Schneider, International Rivers Network, asked what the IHA would do to encourage members to come into compliance with its guidelines.	Katai Kachasa, Lunsemfwa Hydro Power, said many more people benefited from the Kariba Dam than were resettled due to its construction.
Case Studies: Exercises in Applying the SAP
Claude Tessier faciliated a discussion on assessment of new hydropower projects on aquatic biodiversity criteria, using a case study of the Toulnustouc hydropower scheme in Québec.
Peter Leonard facilitated a discussion on the asssessment of operating facilities on environmental and social criteria, using a case study of the Bersimis hydropower complex.
Joe Mulligan facilitated an auditing role-playing exercise, using a case study of the Kariba Dam on the Zambezi River.
Wrap Up/Commitment
Mohan Shakya, Nepal, expressed enthusiasm for implementing hydropower sustainably, calling access to electricity a basic right.	David Harrison, The Nature Conservancy, urged the industry to present sustainable hydropower as part of the best power system for regions.	Doğan Altınbilek, President of the International Hydropower Association, expressed pleasure at the workshop's attendance level.
Anita Utseth, Deputy Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Norway, presented certificates of participation to training course attendees.
Around the Training Course
Participants registered for the workshop on Saturday evening.
Participants chatted during morning tea.