- El Nasr Company for Intermediate Chemicals (NCIC) was planning to establish a new complex for the production of Nitrogenous Fertilizers in Ain Sokhna, within the expansion area of the site of the phosphate and compound fertilizers complex, for which was an Environmental Impact Assessment was carried out and environmental approval was obtained earlier.
- NCIC commissioned Environics to prepare an environmental impact assessment (EIA) study for all the production lines, services & annexes of the proposed project.
- Environics prepared a complete EIA Study – Category (C) for the project in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Law No. 4 for 1994, amended by Law 105/2015 and its updated Executive Regulations. The relevant Egyptian and International Guidelines were used, including The Fertilizers Industry Guidelines (EEAA, 2002), IFC’s Environment, Health and Safety Guidelines for Nitrogenous Fertilizers Production, and the Best Available Techniques Reference Document for the Manufacture of Fertilizers (BREF).
- Detailed analyses of the project’s industrial processes and services were performed. The Environmental aspects associated with the project’s activities during the construction and operation phases were identified. A summary of the environmental laws and legislations applicable to the project and environmental aspects was prepared. The baseline environment: Physical, biological and Socio-economic was described. In addition, project alternatives were analyzed, the project’s potential environmental impacts were assessed, and the proper mitigation measures were recommended to prevent/reduce the potential negative impacts during the construction and operation phases. The general framework for the Environmental Management Plan and the periodic self-monitoring plan was designed to ensure the continuity of the sound environmental performance.
- The study also included preparation of the following specialized studies to obtain a quantitative assessment of the project. The results of these studies were included in the environmental impact assessment as well as the annexes of the study:
- Assessment of the potential risks from Ammonia Storage: the engineering layout of the Ammonia’s tank was studied, the safety data for the liquefied Ammonia substance to be stored were analyzed, as well as the control, containment and emergency response measures proposed by NCIC. Then a mathematical modeling was carried out to determine the levels and spatial range of potential risk, using the (ALOHA) software.
- Mathematical Cumulative Modeling Study of the distortion of emissions from stacks of the Nitrogenous Fertilizer complex, in addition to the stacks of the existing plant complex for the production of phosphate and compound fertilizers using the mathematical model (ISC3ST-Prime), which is a model approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Environics had contracted an accredited Lab to conduct the measurements.
- Due to (COVID -19) pandemic, the public consultation meeting with the project’s stakeholders was held using Video Conference after obtaining EEAA’s approval, where the finding results of the study were presented to them, and their opinions and observations were discussed.
