A multi-criteria assessment and site selection study for replacement villages affected by an LNG development
The Situation
Anadarko established an LNG development project to bring gas onshore, process and export it to international markets. A significant requirement for the project was the establishment of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) processing facility to process the gas and onshore and offshore infrastructure, to be built in northern Mozambique.
Approach
Advisian was contracted to provide advice on potential sites for the construction of the replacement villages for the households that will be physically displaced by the project.
A phased multi-criteria assessment and site screening methodology was developed supported by GIS modelling. After defining the study area, all known parameters that may pose serious constraints to the use of the land for resettlement purposes were identified, mapped, and excluded from the subsequent analysis of the study area, deemed unavailable or unsuitable for resettlement.
The implementation of this methodology resulted in the identification of potentially suitable areas in the study area, ranked in terms of overall suitability, taking into consideration a number of technical, environmental and social parameters.
Two suitability models were developed, one for the villages Infrastructure and one for livelihood restoration/agriculture since the constraints and comparison criteria are different or weighted differently.
Results
The models were used to support the identification of a number of potential sites that not only were located within the most suitable areas for the construction of the replacement villages but also, as much as possible, located nearby suitable areas for livelihood restoration/agriculture.
Using a standardised methodology provided a degree of flexibility that suited the context and reality of the project. It allowed a gradual inclusion of additional data and information as it became available, and an increase in the level of detail of the information used, at each iteration, keeping the same principles and approach. It also allows for the inclusion of new constraints and/or comparison criteria in order to re-run the models as required.
The results of the GIS modelling were used to inform recommendations in regards to next steps considered necessary in order to validate the site screening process and its findings, namely the community engagement process for site selection.
