Multiregional: SN Power–01/CAO Vice President Request

Date Filed
01 Dec 2008
Status
Closed
Phase
Compliance
Country
Multi-Regional

Case Tracker

Eligibility
Assessment
Dispute Resolution
Compliance
Appraisal
Closed
CURRENT Status
Appraisal (COMPLIANCE)
Closed

Complaint Overview

Concerns

Health and safety issues

Cross-Cutting Issues
Labor Community Health and Safety Water

Project Information

Region
World
Institution
IFC/MIGA
Name & Number
AD Hydro Power Ltd 11632; Ambuklao-Binga 26996; Magat Hydro 26041; La Confluencia 25472; La Higuera 21315; Norvind S.A. 26207; Himal Power Ltd 1297
Company
SN Power Group
Sector
Infrastructure
Department
Infrastructure
Category
B

Synopsis

Complaint

IFC and MIGA have supported a number of projects with SN Power, a commercial investor and developer of hydropower projects. In 2004, the CAO received complaints from locally impacted communities regarding the Allain Duhangan project in India, in which both IFC and SN Power hold a share (see AD Hydro Power Limited-01/Himachal Pradesh). CAO Ombudsman facilitated dialogue and agreements between the parties from 2004 to 2008, and concluded its involvement in the case in March 2008. During the ombudsman assessment, issues related to worker safety and labor conditions were raised that were not part of the original complaint. CAO Ombudsman concluded that these issues had been addressed and verified through enhanced supervision by IFC.

In October 2008, independent statements made by SN Power indicated that several of its hydropower projects struggled to implement effective health and safety actions. The acknowledgements by SN Power and its owner companies raised concerns of the effectiveness of both IFC’s due diligence and supervision, in terms of specific projects and SN Power, as a repeat client. In December 2008, the CAO Vice President requested a compliance appraisal of IFC's/MIGA’s due diligence and supervision of health and safety issues on all projects where SN Power was involved.

Action

CAO Compliance reviewed the health and safety reporting of seven IFC/MIGA involvements with SN Power in Chile, India, Nepal, and the Philippines, and released its appraisal report in December 2009. The CAO concluded that the case did not merit further investigation in the form of an audit. The CAO did find, however, that the Allain Duhangan project highlighted systemic concerns regarding IFC’s approach as to how it engages and assures itself of implementation of its standards when investing in, or acting as a minority shareholder in, a joint venture-type project.

Status

CAO Compliance conducted a project site visit to the Allain Duhangan site in May 2010 to verify the accuracy of reporting, and closed the case in June 2010.

Case Documents

  • Compliance

    Appraisal Report(s)
    CAO Appraisal: Case of IFC and MIGA involvement with SN Power with special focus on the Allain Duhangan Hydropower Project in India
    Dec 17, 2009
    English
    CAO Appraisal: Case of IFC and MIGA involvement with SN Power with special focus on the Allain Duhangan Hydropower Project in India
    Monitoring Report(s)
    Closure of Appraisal
    Jun 10, 2010
    English
    Closure of Appraisal
  • Mailchimp Survey

     

    We Value Your Feedback

    Thank you for visiting CAO’s new website. Help us improve your experience by taking our short survey.

    Give Feedback No thanks