- Environics carried out the EIA/ESIA studies required for Basin 3 of Sokhna Port, including that of the Jetty and Tank Farm, in addition to the studies related to the different stages of the project, namely: basin’s dredging, construction, and expansion, as well as the construction and operation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Gas Oil tanks, and their related facilities. In addition, a Rapid Cumulative Impact Assessment (RCIA) study was prepared for Sonker Bulk Liquids Terminal (BLT).
- Studies were carried out in accordance with the Egyptian laws & regulations and the international requirements.
EIA for Dredging of Port Sokhna Basin 3 (2007)
- Sokhna Port Development Company (SPDC), one of the Amiral group of companies, were to commence the construction of a new basin in Sokhna Port (basin 3), and contracted Environics to carry out the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for this project.
- The EIA for the dredging and construction phases entailed carrying out a detailed oceanographic baseline survey, as well as mathematical modelling of turbidity plume dispersion in relation to various dredging and spoil dewatering marine drainage scenarios.
- The EIA described the environmental setting of the proposed area, discussed the potential impacts, presented the project’s alternatives, and proposed mitigation measures.
EIA for widening Basin “3” and receiving LNG, commissioned by Sonker Bunkering Company (2014)
- Environics developed the EIA study for the project to widen “basin 3” to receive liquefied natural gas (LNG) through Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) to feed into EGAS national transmission network.
- The EIA assessed the environmental impacts associated with the proposed dredging; and disposal methods, including regulations/restrictions with regards to turbidity of the water and operation activities of the port including ship support services like fuel and water supply.
- The study provided a description of the project, as well as a description of the environmental conditions (physical, biological and social), in addition to, the environmental laws and regulations pertaining to the project. It also presented the analyses of project alternatives, assessment of environmental impacts, mitigation measures, and the Environmental Management & Monitoring Plan.
Addendum to the ESIA for Development of a Liquid Bulk Terminal Sokhna Port (2015)
- Environics prepared an addendum related to the operation of an additional FSRU at the Basin 3 jetty in Sokhna port, and specifically to the increase the sea water intake for heating purposes and discharge of colder water back to the basin.
- The objective of this addendum was to ensure that the environmental impacts related to increasing the sea water intake, if any, as a result of adding a second FSRU are environmentally acceptable, and that any potential negative environmental consequences are recognized early and taken into account before project implementation.
ESIA & QRA for Sokhna Port Jetty and Tank Farm (2015)
- SONKER Bunkering Company S.A.E was in the process of establishing a liquid bulk terminal in Basin 3 operated by Dubai Ports World.
- Environics was commissioned to carry out the ESIA required for the first phase of this project, which was to cover the construction and operation of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Gas Oil tanks, including related facilities.
- The ESIA covered all the components which included: three cryogenic tanks of LPG refrigerated at normal atmospheric pressure; three tanks for overall storage of Gas Oil; underground pipelines for interconnecting the six tanks to the jetty; receiving the LNG from tankers; operating the Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) to feed the national network pipelines; basic infrastructure, including an operations building; marine intake and discharge from Basin 3 for raising the temperature of the LPG and to serve as firefighting water intake (closed non-contact system); and, piping and additional marine (un)loading arms at the existing jetty.
- As part of the ESIA, a Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) was carried out to identify the potential risks associated with the SONKER tank farm to draw conclusions about the acceptability of the offsite risk exposure.
- The QRA focused on potential hazards associated with the different processes within the jetty and tank farm.
- Since the Egyptian regulations did not have clear criteria for QRA studies, International systems have been reviewed regarding the type and scope of hazard to be included in QRA calculations.
- To carry out the QRA, Environics described the facility location and operation, as well as the meteorological conditions in Sokhna area; identified the hazards and the hazardous scenarios associated with the project; conducted frequency assessment and consequence modeling; determined risk criteria, assessed and calculated risks; and recommended risk reduction measures.
EIA for Re-Extension of Basin “3” & Construction of Jetty (2016)
- Sonker Bunkering Company was planning to further expand the existing basin “3” toward the eastern direction with the purpose of constructing a second jetty in addition to the existing one to receive liquid bulk fuel tankers within the Sokhna port.
- The scope of work included the construction activities for the project’s phase I (widening the basin) and II (construction of the second jetty), and the disposal and management activities for the excavated soil and dredged materials.
Rapid Cumulative Impact Assessment (RCIA) for Sonker Bulk Liquids Terminal (BLT) at Basin 3 (2019)
- Sonker commissioned Environics to complete the RCIA according to the IFC Good Practice Handbook for Cumulative Impact Assessment for the Private Sector in Emerging Markets.
- The RCIA’s objectives were:
- To determine if the combined impacts of: the project, other projects and activities, and natural environmental drives may put at risk the sustainability of the Valued Environmental Components (VECs) which are defined as fundamental elements of the physical, biological or socio-economic environment, that are likely to be the most sensitive and/or valued receptors to the impacts of the cumulative impacts of the different projects.
- To determine what management measures could be implemented to prevent unacceptable impacts on VEC condition.
- The RCIA process relied on information obtained from the project’s ESIAs. In addition, at the wider regional level, greater reliance was placed on secondary data from desk review of publicly available literature including the ESIA reports of other neighboring projects.
- The RCIA framework took into account the six-step process as detailed in the IFC Good Practice Handbook, namely: Scoping I & II, Establishment of baseline status of VEC’s, Assessment of cumulative impacts on VECs, Assessment of significance of anticipated cumulative, Outline of management of cumulative impacts & Stakeholder engagement.
- Environics developed an approach for the implementation of each step and provided a description of the project components and the activities performed as well as its potential environmental and social impacts as identified in its developed ESIAs.
- Projects impacts during construction activities and dredging for Basin 3 were investigated as well as impacts during the project’s normal operation activities based on the provided ESIAs which have considered the following environmental and social aspects: Air quality and noise, Marine water quality and marine environment, Terrestrial environment, Soil and groundwater, and Socio-economic aspects (traffic, employment, visual and light intrusion).
- Environics undertook several scoping activities, selected VECs, investigated the baseline condition and assessed the cumulative impacts on the selected VECs.
- An environmental assessment matrix was developed presenting the surrounding activities that may have cumulative impacts on the different environmental components, and conclusion and recommendations were provided.