2007
- Environics prepared an EIA study for Al-Nouran Sugar Mill, Sharqeya Governorate, according to Egyptian Laws and Regulations and African Development Bank (ADB) Requirements. The study was approved by the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA).
- The study covered the establishment of the beet-sugar plant, which was to produce sugar as a main product, through refining imported raw sugar, in addition to molasses and animal fodder as byproducts. Later planned expansions of the plant were to include the production of liquid sugar and io-ethanol.
- The main activities that were assessed were: production of white sugar; sugar refining; production of fodder from pulp; lime production; feed water treatment and steam production; make-up water treatment, and biological wastewater treatment.
2011
- Al-Nouran approached the African Development Bank (ADB) for potential project financing, which necessitated updating the EIA study to comply with ADB’s environmental and social assessment guidelines.
- Environics updated the study based on any potential changes related to the surrounding environment and/or any other decisions taken by the client regarding technology alternatives, mitigation measures, or regulatory changes.
- Certain aspects of the EIA were elaborated on, namely, the international agreements to which Egypt has signed that pertain to the project’s activities; the project’s positive impacts; likelihood of seismic impacts, and the effect of climate change on the availability of water resources for the project’s production processes.
- A comprehensive Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) was developed for the plant and refinery.