Kenya;the Sondu-Miriu Hydropower Project
the Minutes of
Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence
(Draft)(June 25,2001)
→→Also see
"the Minutes of Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence"
(by Mr.Sakurai, May 29,2001)
Oversight of Administration"
(by Ms.Fukushima,June 11,2001)
"the Minutes of Committee
on Oversight of Administration"
(by Mr.Sakurai, June 11,2001)
The National
Diet of Japan
House of Councillors
Committee on Accounts
June 25, 2001.
Q. Mr. Sakurai, Member of the House of Councillors.
Finally, there is one favor to ask you, Minister Tanaka, and this is about the Sondu Miriu Hydropower Project. Cancellation of this project has been made public in Kenya, while the Congress was expressing its willingness to reexamine the project. The Japanese Ambassador to Kenya seems to have been releasing this wrong information, and we wonder what exactly the Ambassador said on this matter. What is your perspective on this matter? On this, I will conclude my questions.
A. Ms. Tanaka, Foreign Minister.
The Chief of the Bureau, the Chief of the Section who went to Kenya to investigate the Sondu Miriu Hydropower Project, and I have just received the newest information right before the commencement of this Committee.
I would like to inform precisely the substance of the brief talk that we had. The Chief of the Section, with whom I just visited in my office, had been sent to Kenya on the 16th of June 2001 and stayed until the 20th of the same month. He not only inspected the site and visited with local residents, members of NGOs, and volunteers but also exchanged opinions with the parties concerned within the Government of Kenya.
Let me give a brief outline of the result of the examination. All the local residents and NGO members are eager for the continuation of the project,
according to the result of the questionnaires, and none of them opine that this project should be terminated. However, two third of the answers for the continuation of the project pointed out that the project had been causing some social and environmental problems. Their opinion was that the project should be in effect with due regards to these problems. Members of the NGOs that had been raising the most critical problems asserted that they were one of the most vigorous supporters of the project, and they hope that the project will be in effect in due consideration of social and environmental problems.
Therefore, the most recent information ensures that the Government of Japan will continue to examine on the matter in order to decide whether to render an additional loan to this project.
Mr. Sakurai, Member of the House of the Councilors.
Thank you.
→→Go
to the Index