Project Description
Provision of a senior loan of up to EUR 40 million, including a committed Tranche A of EUR 15 million and an uncommitted Tranche B of EUR 25 million, to the Agence Nationale des Ports (ANP) to co-finance the works required to improve the climate resilience of selected Moroccan ports as included in ANP's Priority Investment Programme (PIP) (the "Project"). The Bank's loan will be supplemented by an investment grant of USD 5.7 million from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF).
Project Objectives
The Project's objectives are to enhance the climate resilience of the ports along the highly climate vulnerable Moroccan coastline of the Atlantic sea included in ANP's PIP in line with international standards and best practice. Considering the key role of the port sector in linking the Moroccan economy to wider markets, ANP's strategic position in the sector, as well as the increasing urgency of addressing climate resilience globally, the Project has a wide potential for replication and impact beyond the immediate Project stakeholders.
Transition Impact
The transition impact of the Project is expected to be fully derived from the Green quality as the investment activities will be complemented by a comprehensive technical support, funded by a Technical Cooperation (TC) grant of USD 500,000 from the GEF and USD 1 million from the EBRD's Shareholder Special Fund (SSF), to address key barriers in ensuring long-term climate resilience of the Moroccan port sector through a wide range of outreach measures, such as policy engagement and capacity building to facilitate informed decision-making and widespread adoption of climate change adaptation measures across the sector, as well as standard setting.
Client Information
NATIONAL PORT AGENCY
ANP is the national port authority in charge of all Moroccan ports (except the special zone of Tanger-Med), responsible for the port infrastructure investments within its existing port network. ANP is under technical supervision of the Ministry of Equipment and Water and subject to the financial control of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
EBRD Finance Summary
EUR 40,000,000.00
A senior loan of up to EUR 40,000,000, including a committed Tranche A of up to EUR 15,000,000 and an uncommitted Tranche B of up to EUR 25,000,000.
Total Project Cost
EUR 59,155,536.75
Additionality
EBRD's involvement is considered additional in terms of (i) risk mitigation as it will enable ANP to incorporate climate resilience measures in various ports included in the PIP, while the associated TC support will address key barriers to achieving climate resilience of Moroccan ports; (ii) standard setting as the TC assignment also includes support for the adoption of the guidance published in January 2020 by the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure on Climate Change Adaptation Planning for Ports and Inland Waterways or PIANC's Working Group 178, for the first time in the region, which will have a strong demonstration effect and will promote higher gender and economic inclusion standards; as well as (iii) policy, sector, institutional, or regulatory change as the Project is designed to trigger a change in the sector framework and enhance climate resilience practices at the sector level.
Environmental and Social Summary
Categorised B (2019 ESP). As confirmed by Environmental and Social Due Diligence ("ESDD") the environmental and social risks and impacts associated with the rehabilitation of four port infrastructure assets in Morocco, which will not lead to port capacity increases, are site specific and can be mitigated by the implementation of good construction management practices and a targeted Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP). The ESDD was carried out in-house and consisted of a site visit to the Casablanca port, an interview with ANP management, and a review of project and E&S documentation, (including third party assessment of port operations against IFC Performance Standards carried out in 2016). Associated facilities will consist of quarries for some of the four port infrastructure assets.
The ESDD confirmed that ANP has an E&S team at corporate level and operational level (in main ports) and a systematic approach to compliance with E&S national regulation, and has the capacity to implement the Project in line with the Bank's Performance Requirements ("PRs"). The CapEx investments in four port infrastructure assets vary in scope; however, the ESDD confirmed that each "subproject" is categorised as B. The reconstruction works will not require a national Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA").
The Company is in the process of implementation of Environmental and Social Management System across its operational ports, with initial focus on commercial ports (Casablanca and Agadir) by the end of 2023 and later certifications planned at fishing ports. ANP has established a Corporate Social Responsibility ("CSR") Policy in 2016 (referring to environmental management) and has recently introduced a requirement on ISO 14001 certifications from its terminal concessionaires. These efforts to apply more systemic approach to environmental management result from an ESAP agreed under a transaction with AFD in 2013. Specific environmental aspects of ports operations are covered by Corporate level procedures such as hazardous materials management, ballast water treatment, waste management, water and sediment monitoring. During the site visit, it was observed that some environmental practices were in place, but would benefit from improvement (e.g. fuel storage management, noise measurement).
ANP employs 900 staff, of which 22% are women. The Company follows the Moroccan Labour Code, which is aligned with PR2. 78% of the workforce is unionised within five active Trade Unions. There is no collective agreement in place. Construction workers will be accommodated outside the port perimeter; the ESAP requires that any workforce accommodation comply with the requirements of PR2 and EBRD Guidance Note on Workers' accommodation. For some ports, subprojects involve dredging of silty sediment (up to 30,000m3 for Agadir port); the ESAP requires relevant sediment analysis, assessment of dredging techniques and disposal methods to be carried out and shared with EBRD, prior to dredging activities. Port Emergency Response Plans are in place and drills are carried out regularly in cooperation with national emergency services. Occupational health and safety risks during construction works (heavy lifting, underwater works, marine works such as sediment dumping, etc.) are considered high; therefore Contractors will prepare a Health and Safety Plan, and dedicated Occupational Health and Safety ("OHS") supervision and auditing will be implemented during the rehabilitation works, as outlined in the ESAP. During operations, ANP's system includes an Health, Safety and Environment ("HSE") Annex applicable to all contracts related to provision of work services (requiring risk assessment, compliance with national regulation and international maritime conventions ratified by Morocco, and cascading of requirements to sub-contractors); nevertheless, the health and safety management system must be reinforced, as outlined in the ESAP.
To minimise the disturbance of the fishing activities for the fishing ports, the works will be undertaken by tranches (to avoid a full closure of the port), in concertation with the port users. Engagement with the fishermen will be done through the cooperatives/associations in place. Most of the ports are located near terrestrial protected areas (Agadir port is adjacent to the terrestrial Sous Massa National Park, Kenitra port is adjacent to Sidi Boughaba Ramsar site, and Larache port is adjacent to the Marais de Larache Hunting Reserve), however the ESDD has confirmed that the scale of rehabilitation works will not have an impact on these areas.
The Company has established external communications practices at HQ and port levels, and a grievance mechanism for the port users. However, the Project requires further stakeholder engagement prior to and during construction and operation. A Corporate Stakeholder Engagement Plan will be developed by ANP; it will include specific requirements for engagement with local fishermen and implementation of a grievance mechanism. ANP is publishing an Annual Report that includes a CSR section.
An ESAP has been developed and agreed with ANP. It focuses on development and implementation of E&S and H&S management systems; contractor performance management, stakeholder engagement and implementation of specific mitigations described above. The Project will be monitored through review of annual E&S reports and site visits as required.
Technical Cooperation and Grant Financing
In addition to the TC assignment on climate resilience of the Moroccan port sector, the TC package will include a dedicated support to ANP on project implementation and ESAP monitoring as well as a Lender's Monitor, reporting directly to the Bank, to ensure effective implementation of the Project. A separate TC assignment will support the Client on IFRS adoption to strengthen its financial reporting and standards. The funds for these assignments, totalling EUR 360,000, will be provided from the SSF.
Company Contact Information
M. Abdelali HAJBI
HAJBI@anp.org.ma
00 212 5 20 12 13 32
https://www.anp.org.ma/Pages/Home.aspx
Implementation summary
PSD last updated
26 Apr 2022
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Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)
If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (e.g. through the Client’s Project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).
IPAM independently reviews Project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the Mechanism is: to support dialogue between Project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or Project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.
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