Scoping and ESIA Studies
- Environics was commissioned to conduct the Scoping and ESIA studies for Lekela proposed wind farms (250 MW BOO & 50 MW FiT) near Ras Gharib, on the Gulf of Suez about 80km south of the existing Zaafarana Wind Farm.
- Scoping Studies:
- The scoping methodology relied on document reviews, consultation activities, & groundtruthing site visits.
- The studies were conducted in compliance with EIA Scoping Guidance, European Commission 2001 and IFC Performance Standards.
- Studies entailed examining the legal and administrative framework (National and International); describing the proposed project; summarizing the existing baseline information in relation to the wind turbine development and the surrounding area; and setting out the approach to the ESIA and its proposed structure & content.
- ESIA Studies:
- According to Egyptian regulations, complete Category-C ESIA studies were carried out for both projects.
- Additionally, the ESIA studies fulfilled the environmental requirements of international funding institutions, specifically the Performance Standards of the IFC.
Ornithological Monitoring Survey
- As part of the environmental studies required for the prospective wind farm projects near Ras Gharib, located outside the boundaries of the Gebel E Zeit bottle neck Important Bird Area (IBA) and to the south of the Ain Sokhna IBA, Environics, in cooperation with Hemaya, carried out ornithological studies for the following seasons: Autumn 2015, Spring 2016; Spring 2017, Autumn 2017, Spring 2018, Autumn 2018 and Fall 2019.
- The studies included:
- Literature review covering previous research, studies and monitoring results concerning resident, migratory and soaring birds in the areas of Ras Gharib and the Gulf of Suez;
- Detailed description of the risks birds are subject to as a result of wind energy projects;
- Detailed explanation of research methodology, including:
- Description of the proposed projects
- Detailed description of research methodology, including:
- Description of project site.
- Project Elements that have impact on birds.
- Survey and field monitoring methodology.
- Data analysis methodology, including equipment used, methods and modeling of calculations and estimations, and discussion of difficulties and limitations.
- Presentation of results covering resident, migratory, soaring birds, in addition to avian mortality.
- Risk Assessment based on Collision Risk Modelling (CRM), which entailed conservation significance of predicted casualty levels.
- Conclusions and Recommendations.