My name is Jody Lenihan, and I am the president and CEO of South Asia Energy Management Systems. When I first visited this site in May 2006, as part of our initial assessment of the project, I was informed of the rarity of this extremely rare cycad, Encephalartos whitelochii, with its beautiful red fruit and long, dark green fronds reminiscent of the sago palm I’ve nurtured and grown at my personal residence in California over the last 10 years.

South Asia Energy Management Systems (SAEMS) is engaged solely in the development of renewable power projects in emerging nations worldwide, particularly where electrical infrastructure development is so critical in improving quality of life for local populations. Why renewable power? The reason is simple: to our principals, it’s crucial that our legacy is to produce energy with the absolutely the lowest environmental impact. That’s why we are in favor of run-of-river hydropower: the footprint is minimal, there are zero emissions or pollutants, and no large areas are impacted because large dams and reservoirs are not created. When it rains, we make power, and when it doesn’t, we don’t. The Mpanga project will produce enough power to supply ten to twenty thousand homes in Uganda, with virtually no adverse environmental effects.

At Mpanga, we are in close collaboration with the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Directorate of Water Development (DWD), National Water & Sewage Corporation (NWSC), Rural Elictrification Administration (REA), Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), and the Kamwenge District Local Council & Environmental Officer. On 28 May, all parties met at the site to assess the environmental impact of the project and to determine specific Terms of Reference to mitigate any identified issues. Very shortly thereafter, SAEMS executed a Compliance Agreement with NEMA which further formalized our commitment to the environment.

During our initial construction of access roads to the project, SAEMS displaced approximately thirty Encephalartos whitelochii plants, and immediately proceeded to the planting of two hundred cycads to replace the displaced ones by a factor of more than six to one.

At the 28 May site meeting, the Kamwenge District Environmental Officer explained that they have observed the destruction of over five hundred cycads by local villagers in the last six months. Unaware of the rarity of this species, they have been burning the cycads to clear the land for cattle grazing. All parties agreed that SAEMS should to sponsor an awareness campaign to encourage local residents to take actions to ensure the sustainability of Encephalartos whitelochii. SAEMS has already begun this effort.

With respect to preservation of Encephalartos whitelochii, the participation by SAEMS on the Mpanga project will actually result in a far greater positive net effect on the cycad’s sustainability, due to replanting measures and local awareness campaigns.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter with any interested parties. I can be reached at jodyl@southasiaems.com, or by telephone at +1 949 699 0100.