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Environmental classification and rationale
The project was
screened A/1, requiring an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and
environmental audit in line with the Bank’s Environmental Policy and Public
Information Policy. The project, is also subject to Bulgarian EIA and IPPC
requirements and an IPPC permit has been applied for in line with EU IPPC
requirements.
Information reviewed during the environmental appraisal
An
Environmental Audit and Analysis is being undertaken as part of the Banks due
diligence.
Additional information was received, including;
1. Maritza East 1 Environmental Impact Assessment, Executive Summary, February
2005
2. Maritza East 1 TPP IPPC permit application in English, March 2005
3. Maritza East 1 Environmental Impact Assessment (in English); this is
essentially the updated 2000 EIA, taking into account recent regulatory
changes in the EU and Bulgaria, February 2005
4. Maritza East 1 Environmental Impact Assessment (in English), June 2000,
ENSR International,
Members of the environment department visit the site in 2000-1, during the
initial public consultations.
Key environmental issues and mitigation
The key environmental
issue for ME 1 is air emissions. The new plant is in essence a replacement for
an older plant, most of which has not been operational since the early 1990s.
The new plant will be using state of the art pollution control technology
inclusive of flue gas desulphurisation (FGD). The plant will meet the relevant
EU and Bulgarian emission standards for particulates, SO2 and NOx, notably as
specified by the EU Large Combustion Plant Directive (2001/80/EC).
The main impact from the plant will be sulphur dioxide emissions, and their
impacts on the local ambient air quality. Based on historic data, the region
has had a significant problem with air quality, notably fine dust particulates
and sulphur dioxide as a result of the operation of three large and
inefficient lignite fired power plants, including ME 1, and also as the result
of opencast lignite mining. As part of a national strategy to address this
issue, a programme of replacing existing capacity as well as installing new
abatement equipment on existing plants has been implemented. This has resulted
in a significant improvement of the local air quality in the past few years.
The new power plant at ME1 is part of this programme, and should allow future
compliance with EU and Bulgarian ambient air quality standards.
AES will operate the plant in compliance with Bulgarian laws and regulations
as well as in accordance with EU environmental standards, including Best
Available Technique (BAT) standards. An IPPC permit application has been
submitted to the Bulgarian regulators and this is currently subject to
negotiations. An environmental management system and continuous monitoring
will be incorporated into day to day operations of the plants
Given the nature of fuel used (lignite), substantial carbon emissions will be
associated with the project. This cannot be readily mitigated.
Water consumption and wastewater discharges will be minimised by a water
circulation system, flue gas emission will be emitted via the cooling tower.
Solid waste consisting largely of fly ash and furnace bottom ash, will be
transported by rail or road to a newly constructed disposal area in Dryanovo.
This new landfill will be constructed in accordance with EU and Bulgarian
environmental standards and regulations. The new landfill will also receive
waste gypsum from the wet limestone FGD scrubbing system.
The plant will utilize an existing site and existing railway connections for
lignite and limestone supply, this limits the new footprint of the plant. Fuel
and limestone will be supplied from the nearby operational mines and quarries.
A new 1 km railway line and a new high power voltage spur will need to be
constructed to serve the plant. These investments will be undertaken by other
entities, and appropriate permits will be obtained in due course. Initial
information received indicated that the environmental impact associated with
these investments is not major.
The Company will implement ISO 14001 Environmental Management System for its
operations.
These measures will ensure that the environmental issues will be sufficiently
managed to prevent or minimise impacts on staff and local population as well
as on the environment.
Environmental opportunities
The proposed project is expected to
bring significant environmental benefits as the new plant will be using
state-of-the-art technology and replace older polluting generating units in
the region. The project will also help to satisfy future demand for
electricity in Bulgaria as old inefficient coal/lignite fired plants are
decommissioned. Moreover, the ongoing decommissioning of nuclear power plant
units at Kozloduy will need to be replaced by new generating capacity, and the
project fits in within this strategy.
The project Company will achieve full compliance with Bulgarian and EU
environmental emission standards and will help to attain EU ambient air
quality standards in the area.
Summary of Environmental Action Plan
An Environmental Action
Plan (EAP) will be developed to ensure the plant will implement environmental
standards based on Best Available Techniques. The EAP addresses air emission
control, house keeping and the overall management of environment, health and
safety issues at the power plant and associated auxiliary operations such as
the landfill.
Disclosure of information and consultation
AES has undertaken a
public consultation and disclosure programme, in compliance with national and
EBRD requirements, commencing in 2000 with an initial EIA.
Disclosed materials
1. 2005 EIA executive summary in English and Bulgarian
2. IPPC permit application in English and Bulgarian
3. 2005 EIA in English (updated 2000 EIA, taking into account recent
regulatory changes in EU and Bulgaria)
4. 1999 EIA in Bulgarian
The materials are available in hard copy at the following locations in
Bulgaria:
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AES Sofia office (17 Mmoskovska St., Sofia 1000, Bulgaria) contact: Nadja
Zelyova
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EBRD Sofia office (67 Vitosha Blvd, 1st Fl., Ap. 4, Sofia 1000) contact: Tero
Halmari (also available in London HQ)
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Galabovo Municipality (59 Dimitar Blagoev St., Galabovo) contact: Svetla
Shikova, Head of Environmental Department
An announcement about the public consultation period was made on March 30th in
the Stara Zagora newspaper.
Monitoring and reporting
The Company will monitor the
environmental impact of its operations in accordance with national law and
regulations. The Bank will evaluate the project's compliance with the
applicable environmental and social requirements during the lifetime of the
project by reviewing annual environmental reports prepared for the project
covering:
(i) ongoing performance of project-specific environmental, health and safety
activities as reflected in the results of periodic and quantitative sampling
and measuring programmes, and
(ii) the status of implementation of environmental mitigation and improvement
measures. The Bank’s representatives will also conduct periodic site
supervision visits when deemed appropriate.
There is an Environmental Impact Assesment available for this project.
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