Environmental impact:
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The project has been screened C/1. A site visit and review of existing
environmental studies, including an environmental baseline assessment and
several studies to assess the levels of air emissions from the plant, showed
that while the plant is not new there are several positive environmental
factors associated with the facility. These positive factors include that the
kilns are gas-fired, the main raw material (limestone) used in the process is
waste material from another plant that cuts limestone into construction
blocks, all technical water used onsite is waste water from the treatment
plant for a nearby village and lastly, there is no industrial wastewater or
industrial waste generated from site operations. The Company does not operate
a quarry at present.
The review of corporate environmental management showed that sustainable
development is a priority to Holcim. It has established high corporate
standards for management systems, resource utilisation and CO2, environmental
impacts and stakeholder relations which are implemented in their operations
world-wide. Holcim is a core member in "The Cement Sustainability Initiative
(“CSI”)" of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (“WBCSD”),
and is committed to implement the CSI guidelines at the Garadagh facility.
The main environmental issue from the plant is related to air emissions of
dust from the kilns. While the plant generally complies with permitted
emission limits, this local value is greater than international standards. The
Company is committed to bring the dust emissions in compliance with the EU
limit of 50mg/Nm3, which can be achieved either by installation of
electrostatic precipitators to the existing wet kilns or by providing a new
dry or semi-dry kiln to replace the existing wet kilns. This commitment and
other environmental improvement investments and measures have been captured in
the Environmental Action Plan (“EAP”) as a condition of the Bank’s
participation. The implementation of the EAP will result in a substantial
reduction in energy use and air emissions of dust, SO2, NOX and CO2 and bring
the plant into compliance with EU environmental standards in accordance with
Best Available Techniques guidelines for Cement and Lime production under EU
Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control.
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