Our commitment towards sustainable development is reflected in the company’s Vision which orients its environmental and social activities. Cabeólica is the main renewable energy player in the local energy matrix, delivering substantial amounts of clean energy to the grid networks. The Company is continuously committed to increasing its involvement and contribution to environmental and social sustainability with each passing year. We strongly believe in the importance of the well-being of our environment and community, and this belief constitutes an important aspect of our corporate values.
Cabeólica’s concern for the environment began to become evident during the pre-construction phase, when the company conducted various studies in order, firstly, to responsibly identify its four site locations with the involvement of all relevant agencies, and, secondly, to structure its Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) according to the necessity of the chosen areas of intervention and their surroundings. These steps were taken with the aim of reducing the company’s ecological footprint to as close to zero as possible.
The ESMP, which extends for a 20-year period, includes potential environmental and social impacts predicted to occur during the Project’s construction, operation and decommissioning phases, and the mitigation measures to be taken in order to minimize or, ideally, prevent them.
The ESMP also includes social and biodiversity enhancement measures, as well as a conservation management plan, all of which aim to step beyond the company’s direct obligations and provide positive benefits to the overall environmental sustainability of Cabo Verde.
The main environmental impacts predicted from the injection of wind energy in the electricity network are identified and constantly monitored so as to guarantee an effective implementation of the ESMP measures.
The main factors under monitoring for compliance with the environmental and social guidelines are:
- Air quality
- Fauna and flora
- Vegetation and habitat
- Soil and waste management
- Landscape
- Health and Safety
- Human resource development and training
The results of the monitoring of these indicators are presented every year in an Annual Monitoring Report.