Bereby-Finances

completed

Summary Of Project Information (SPI)Project NameCote d’Ivoire-Société des Caoutchoucs de Grand Béréby.     RegionSub-Saharan AfricaSectorAgricultureProject No.003402Projected Board DateJuly 1, 1995Company NameSociété des Caoutchoucs de Grand Béréby (SOGB)Technical Partner and/or Major Shareholders Béréby Finance, a subsidiary of Compagnie Internationale de Cultures “Intercultures” S.A.Project Cost Including proposed IFC investmentCFAF 21,771 million (approx. US$43.5 million)Location of project and Description of site Grand Béréby is 20 km west of San Pedro in the South West of Côte d''Ivoire. The 13,900 ha rubber plantation is located within a concession of 35,000 ha.Description of Company and Purpose of Project Privatization plans call for the Government to sell to private investors 75% of the shares of the company. The project also involves rehabilitation of 1,000 ha of plantation, modernization of the processing plant, and installation of new machinery for widening the firm''s product line.Environmental Category and Issues This is a category B project according to IFC’s environmental review procedure. Environmental and occupational and health issues associated with this project include land use, air emissions, liquid effluents, noise generation and pesticide handling and application. The SOGB plantation was originally established on a 35,000 ha concession of which approximately 50% was developed and 50% was retained as original vegetation. This 50:50 split will be sustained. The facilites do not generate air emissions other than the normal odors associated with a rubber processing unit and the liquid effluent is treated in a series of solid rubber traps and aerobic/anaerobic ponds to bring the BOD level below 50 mg/liter. The treated effluent is used for irrigation purposes. As part of the project, the processing operation will be modernized to bring noise levels below 85 dBA. SOGB has agreed to comply with the World Bank guidelines for pesticide handling and application. Mature rubber plantations use virtually no chemicals other than occasional use of herbicides for control of vegetation in the tree row, and at SOGB weed control is normally done by manual labor. IFC will ensure ongoing compliance with World Bank guidelines during the life of the project by evaluating monitoring reports submitted annually to IFC by SOGB, and by conducting periodic supervision.     The is from the Public Information Center.Date SPI sent to PIC May 2, 1995For Additional Information contact: Corporate Relations Unit -telephone: (202) 473-7711facsimile: (202) 676-0365Environmental documents for this project are available at http://www.ifc.org and from the World Bank InfoShop (http://www.worldbank.org/html/pic/aboutinfo.html).