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EBRD releases consultant report on Sakhalin-II
Background material on river crossings available on Bank website
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which is holding public
consultations on whether to invest in the second phase of the Sakhalin-II
energy project in the Russian Far East, has decided to publish some of the
background material that it used to help formulate a strategy for laying
onshore gas and oil pipelines across nearly 1,000 rivers on Sakhalin Island.
The Bank took the decision to publish a series of reports by consultants from
the University of Birmingham at the request of non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) and groups monitoring the evolution of the Sakhalin-II project. The
material is available on http://www.ebrd.com/country/sector/natural/projects/sakhalin/river/index.htm
Sakhalin Energy -- which is held 55% by Shell, and 25% and 20% respectively by
the Japanese corporations Mitsui and Mitsubishi -- has asked the EBRD to help
finance Phase 2 development of the Sakhalin-II project. The Bank financed the
offshore Phase 1 in 1997. The EBRD and other potential lenders first required
Sakhalin Energy to bring its Environmental Impact Assessment up to a standard
that allows the public to be able to comment meaningfully on the documentation
and the mitigation measures to minimise potential damage.
One change of procedure initiated by the EBRD was a new strategy to do minimal
damage to the environment while crossing waterways used by spawning salmon.
This was put together as a result of consultants’ reports on earlier
procedures, including the reports by the University of Birmingham specialists.
The EBRD decided in December 2005 that the company’s extensive documentation
on environmental, social, health and safety impacts of Sakhalin II (Phase 2)
was ‘fit for the purpose of consultation’. Sakhalin Energy’s latest Environmental
Impact Assessment, is to be discussed between now and mid-April at six
public meetings, on the island itself, in Moscow and in Britain and Japan.
Comments from the general public at these meetings will provide important
input to determine if the project could meet the Bank’s basic banking and
environmental requirements and be eligible for financing.
Implementation of the new river crossings strategy is, meanwhile, being
monitored by the company, by independent monitors and by the EBRD. The
monitoring must show that implementation of the new strategy has been
successful for the EBRD to be able to consider making an investment.
Monitoring will continue beyond the end of the 120-day public consultation
period on April 21 and through the Sakhalin spring.
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