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The project was screened A/0. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was completed on behalf of the client and disclosed by the EBRD on 13 October 2000. A final EIA was submitted to the Georgian Ministry of Environment on 23 October and disclosed to the public during public meetings, from 31 October to 1 November 2000, and in the EBRD's offices on 3 November 2000.
The environmental studies indicate that the Port’s existing emergency response capabilities, such as for fire and spills, need to be improved. The EIA also identified that, under adverse scenarios of an unmitigated oil product spill outside of the port, a potential for transboundary impacts may exist. Under adverse conditions and without appropriate mitigation, the Kolkheti nature reserve, a designated Ramsar Convention wetland area, may also be impacted.
Public consultation meetings were held for the project on a number of occasions, including 22-24 September 2000 in Poti, 7 October 2000 in Tblisi (initiated by the Georgian Greens), on 31 October 2000 in Poti, and on 1 November 2000 in Tblisi (hosted by the Georgian Greens). Key issues of concern raised, which are being addressed in the project design, were associated with the emergency response and effluent treatment capabilities of Poti Port.
The EIA has identified a number of recommendations to address issues such an emergency response, which have been incorporated into the project design. The EIA has been reviewed by the Georgian Ministry of Environment (MoE). In the positive conclusion of the EIA review, the MoE required that (a) additional technical parameters about the effluent treatment plant need to be presented for approval, (b) a detailed oil spills response plan be developed and coordinated prior to commissioning of the terminal, and (c) a self-monitoring programme be developed and agreed.
During a meeting with the Minister of Environment, the EBRD’s representatives referred to the Espoo Convention on EIA in a Transboundary context and recommended that neighbouring countries be informed about the project and its potentially adverse transboundary impacts under adverse scenarios. It is understood that the Minister is currently considering a notification to Georgia’s neighbouring countries. Supported by technical assistance from the Netherlands , Georgia is also developing its National Oil Spill Contingency Plan.
The port will continue to service medium-sized tankers of approximately 25,000 dead weight tons (dwt). For comparison, other crude oil terminals, located on Georgia's Black Sea coast service larger tankers of approximately 130,000 dwt. During 1999 and 2000, oil tankers comprised about 10 per cent of the total vessel movement at the Poti Port. The vessels entering the Black Sea en route to or leaving the Poti Port on their way to the Mediterranean have to pass through the narrow Dardanelles and Bosporos Straits. In 1998, approximately 49,000 ships over 1,000 dwt transited the Straits, including approximately 5,100 oil tankers. The initial throughput of the Poti Port (about 1 million tons of white oil products during Phase I) is expected to add about 40 tankers movements per year. The IMO, the UN and the Oil Companies' International Marine Forum are co-operating with the aim of achieving safe and environmentally responsible passage through the Strait.
A draft Environmental Action Plan (EAP) has already been agreed with the sponsor and will be finalised and covenanted within the Financing Agreements. The requirements of the MoE noted above will be added to the EAP.
There is an Environmental Impact Assesment available for this project.
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