Alexandria Carbon Black Expansion II

completed

- 3 - February 18, 1998International Finance CorporationA Member of the World Bank GroupInternational Finance CorporationA Member of the World Bank GroupEnvironmental Review Summary (ERS)Project Name EGYPT-Alexandria Carbon Black Company S.A.E.Region Europe, Middle East, North AfricaSector ChemicalsProject No. 0087861. Alexandria Carbon Black Company S.A.E. (ACB) operates a carbon black plant in the Amreya industrial area, 35 kilometers outside Alexandria in Egypt. The proposed project involves expansion of ACB’s existing carbon black production facilities from 76,500 tpa to 115,000 tpa by installing additional carbon black reactors.2. This is a category B project according to IFC’s environmental review procedure because specific impacts may result which can be avoided or mitigated by adhering to generally recognized performance standards, guidelines or design criteria. The review of this project consisted of information submitted by the project sponsor and the technical appraisal and site review completed by Chemicals, Petrochemicals and Fertilizers Department staff. The following potential environmental, health, and safety impacts of this project were analyzed:· site location;· air emissions;· ambient air monitoring;· wastewater treatment and recycling;· solid waste handling;· noise;· socio-economic impacts;· plant safety; and· certification of environmental and quality management.Information provided on how these potential impacts would be addressed in the ACB project is summarized in the paragraphs that follow.3. The site is located about five kilometers south east of Lake Maryut in a mixed industrial and agricultural area. The nearest town Amreya is located five kilometers away. There are no sensitive habitats near to the site.4. All process off gasses will be either fully combusted in boilers or dryers or filtered in baghouse filters to achieve particulate matter emissions well below 50 mg/liter. Nitrogen oxides will be approximately 260 mg/Ncm, and sulfur dioxides, based on experience, will be kept on 1,500 mg/Ncm as an average by using energy sources with satisfactory low sulfur content. All air emissions will hereby comply with both local requirements and World Bank guidelines. A vacuum system is used to eliminate fugitive dust problems from the packing of final products.5. ABC has a comprehensive air quality monitoring program including weekly 24 hour ambient air monitoring in all directions from the facility. Ambient air impact caused by the facility is minimal according to these monitoring data. ABC also has frequent emission monitoring at all exhaust points. ABC is working on identifying reliable equipment for continuous monitoring at a later stage.6. Domestic sewage from the plant will be treated in septic tank systems and later used for irrigation purposes inside the plant premises. Process water, mainly consisting of cleaning waters and cooling water dumps will be treated in oil separators and settling ponds. The cleaned process water is either reused in the plant or used for irrigation purposes at the premises.7. The facility will only produce insignificant amounts of solid waste. This waste will not be toxic and will be handled through the normal refuse handling organizations in the area.8. The facility will be designed to meet local ambient noise requirements, which are more stringent than World Bank guidelines. Inside the plants, employees will use hearing protective gear in areas where the noise levels can get above 85 dBA.9. The plant expansion will result in direct employment of 25 persons resulting in a total direct employment of 275 persons.10. Carbon black is a powder formed carbon based substance, but is not explosive or flammable under normal conditions, and has not been found toxic. A vacuum extraction system has been introduced in the packaging section to limit employees exposure to carbon dust to a minimum. Employees are provided with all the necessary safety equipment including helmets, dust masks were necessary, hearing protection, etc.11. The company has obtained both ISO 9002 certification for quality assurance and ISO 14001 certification for environmental management. The company has prepared an emergency response plan and environmental management procedures and manuals. To maintain the ISO certification ACB will have to keep good documentation and records of performance. 12. IFC will monitor ongoing compliance with World Bank environmental, health and safety policies and guidelines during the lifetime of the project by evaluating reports submitted annually to IFC by Alexandria Carbon Black Company S.A.E. and by conducting periodic supervision.13. Based on its review of available information regarding potential environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures, IFC concludes that Alexandria Carbon Black Company S.A.E.’s proposed project will meet World Bank environmental, health and safety policies, and guidelines, and host country requirements.\\StreetTalk\Shared Data@CCPNET@IFC\CPFD1\EGYPT\2EXPAN\ACB3_ERS.DOC03/05/98 2:58 PM