AEF Horizon Bilingual Education Complex

completed

Environmental Review Summary (ERS)Project Name Cameroon - AEF HOBECRegion Sub-Saharan AfricaSector Education Project No. 10262 1. This project involves the expansion of a school named HOBEC, which is located in Douala. HOBEC is offering training at nursery and secondary levels; including A-Level sciences. The extension comprises construction and equipment of twelve new classrooms and physics laboratories, acquisition of additional school buses and equipment, completion of existing buildings. The extension will allow the raising of the school’s accommodation capacity from 950 to 1500 students, with an average of 35 students per classroom. 2. This is a category B project according to IFC’s environmental review procedure because specific impacts that may result from it can be avoided or mitigated by adhering to generally recognized performance standards, guidelines or design criteria. The review of this project consisted of the appraisal of technical and environmental information submitted by the project sponsor. The key environmental, health and safety issues considered in this project include:· Site location and prior use;· Power and water supply;· CFC free equipment;· Waste management including office waste,waste from the laboratory, sewage and construction waste during the building phase;· Storage of chemical products for the laboratory, · Health and Safety issues3. IFC has reviewed environmental information supplied by the project sponsor regarding potential environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures. Key elements of this information are described below.4. Site location and prior use: The site is located in the outskirts of Douala and was previously used for small-scale farming, cattle market and breeding.Project sponsor bought 1,2 ha of the land between 1995 and 1997. Initial development on the land was small-scale farming by the sponsor himself and the school was built two years latter. The cattle market originally on the premices has been moved to a new site given by municipal authorities and no more agricultural activities are carried on site. The cattle market has been relocated by the authorities from the site to 6 km away, thus not causing any economical or physical displacement. A wood processing plant has been installed next to the school and was creating important nuisances. At the demand of the school, the plant has been relocated to 11km away to another plot of land belonging to the owner of the wood mill. Sponsor obtained a construction permit from the authorities.5. Power and water supply: The national companies, SONEL and SNEC will respectively supply electric power and water.6. CFC free equipment: Three new European made refrigerators will be installed. These will be CFC free. 7. Waste management: Solid waste is essentially made up of office waste, which will be collected by a private authorized company presently under contract with the school. Wastewater, about 160 m3 per year, is collected in septic tanks. Sludges will be collected regularly by a private authorised company. Sponsor is committed to built septic tanks in accordance with state norms.Sponsor has planned to dispose of laboratory wastes as follows: used chemicals will be collected in ceramic sinks and toxic substances will be drained away from building in pits above water table. The same procedure will be used for biological waste (laboratory animals). 8. Storage of chemical products: chemicals mainly consist of laboratory reagents. Sponsor will comply with Cameroonian regulation on secondary school physics laboratories. Requirements include the setting up of a secure and safe store for all science equipment, respect of size and disposition of benches. Finally, laboratory design must integrate an emergency exit system.Compliance with these requirements is necessary to obtain the authorization to carry out A level science classes. 9. In order to insure the security of the students, the wood mill that was operating on the premises of the school has been displaced and the fence of the school raised higher, while all students are transported by bus. 10. Fire prevention and safety: The school management must develop and implement a comprehensive management plan for fire protection and life safety. The most important measures to consider are:- Control of fire load (the presence and control of ignition sources and combustible material inside and outside the building),- Installation of fire detection and alarm,- Provision of adequate means of egress, - Provision of suitable number of fire extinguisher and- An emergency response plan. 11. The ERS will be released in French and in English in the town hall of Douala Fourth District; and locals will be kept informed through the local radio.12. Based on its review of available information regarding potential impacts and proposed mitigation measures, IFC concludes that the project is being designed to meet government of Cameroon’s requirements and World Bank Group policies and environmental, health and safety guidelines.13. IFC will monitor HOBEC’s ongoing compliance with World Bank Group policies and guidelines during the life of the project by evaluating monitoring reports submitted annually to IFC by the sponsor and by conducting periodic site reviews during project supervision.