The Environmental and Social Impact Study of the major Gas to Power project in Morocco entrusted to the S.M. Group International Inc.
The Gas to Power project, considered one of the largest African projects in recent years, is led by the Office Nationale de l’Électricité et de l’Eau Potable and consists in the construction of various gas and electric infrastructures such as a maritime jetty, an LNG terminal with an annual capacity of 5 billion Nm3, combined cycle power plants with a capacity of 2400 MW as well as a 400 km gas pipeline that will be connected to the existing GME Europe Maghreb Gas Pipeline.
The main objective of this study is to identify and analyze the potential environmental and social impacts resulting from the implementation of the project. This study is in conjunction with a larger project that aims to integrate the environmental and social dimensions into the planning phase. This study will include the establishment of a mechanism that will determine and evaluate potential environmental and social impacts on humans, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climate, natural environments and biological stability as well as on historic properties and monuments. This will identify the monitoring and mitigation measures as well as institutional measures to be taken during the implementation of the project in order to eliminate, mitigate or offset environmental and social impacts.
Our preliminary report will be submitted to public consultations in the concerned regions and will be conducted by the project team so that the final report properly integrate citizens’ concerns with a social acceptability objective.
Since the client required that this study be carried out according to international standards, particularly the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Environmental Performance Standards, CID the local engineering firm, with whom we have worked with in the past, asked us to put a team together with them in order to ensure this performance.
The main objective of this study is to identify and analyze the potential environmental and social impacts resulting from the implementation of the project.
SMi’s Planning and Environment team has enjoyed a relationship of trust with the Office Nationale de l’Électricité et de l’Eau Potable since we have worked with them on major projects regarding its energy interconnection with Europe and other Maghreb countries. Indeed, SMi had carried out the environmental impact study of its sub-sea power transmission interconnection line between Morocco and Spain.
Thanks to the expertise developed over the years and the knowledge of the best practices in sustainable development at the international level, SMi’s Planning and Environment team can work with decision makers from the early planning phases of their major projects in order to increase their chances of obtaining government authorizations.
