The Egyptian Magnesium Company (EMAG), a company formed by Amiral Holdings, Egypt and Magnesium International (MIL) of Australia, was planning to establish a production facility that was to be located within Sokhna Port on the Gulf of Suez. The facility was to include a magnesium smelter and a station for the marine intake and discharge of cooling water. The final product of the facility was to be high quality magnesium alloy for exportation to the international market.
EMAG contracted Environics to conduct the EIA required for the project.
Environics conducted an EIA that covered the project’s construction and operation phases, addressing the terrestrial components of the magnesium smelter and the environmental impacts associated with the marine intake and outfall for cooling water.
The EIA started with a comprehensive legal review of the relevant laws and regulations and a description of the project, which included its location and layout; processes; utilities; emissions and wastes; construction, and schedule. The EIA provided detailed baseline investigations of the physical environment, which included the air quality and noise measurements; geology and morphology; terrestrial ecology; oceanographic survey (bathymetry, tides, seawater quality, marine ecology); flood drainage patterns, and flash flood investigation. The baseline study also covered the socio-economic environment.
The EIA used a modified scoping matrix to identify the key potential impacts, and applied atmospheric dispersion modeling of emissions to predict the expected levels surrounding the facility.
Evaluation criteria were developed to determine significant impacts. The EIA proposed mitigation measures and formulated environmental management and monitoring plans.
The interagency coordination and public consultation stage of the EIA involved holding stakeholder meetings, which were followed by public consultation and disclosure meetings.