BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. A gas chemical complex (based on methanol-to-olefins technology), currently under construction in Uzbekistan's Bukhara, has undergone the the environmental and social impact assessment (“ESIA”), the project's press service said in a statement, Trend reports.
UK's Mott MacDonald, which conducted the "ESIA" for the project accordance with recognized international ESIA processes, concluded that the identified adverse environmental and social impacts could be adequately managed and minimized through applying effective mitigation measures.
The ESIA also confirmed that the project is implementing social and environmental requirements, satisfying international standards applied by international development and financial institutions such as the World Bank and the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development.
The $3-billion project’s impact on natural and social environment has been a major focus of the project's management since inception. To mitigate risks and minimize negative externalities, the project has employed the most modern technology from the very early design stages.
“We thank the experts at Mott MacDonald and Ekostandart Ekspert for their comprehensive assessment, which will guide us in implementing the "GCC MTO" project in the most responsible way. From the very beginning of our large, and regionally unique industrial project, we have committed to international standards of environmental and social sustainability," General Director of "GCC MTO" Masrur Shakirov said.
“GCC MTO offers huge potential to the Bukhara region. Sustainable industrial development is the ultimate guarantor for this potential to become a reality, and to unlock economic growth and benefits for our entire region,” he said.
Mott MacDonald prepared its report with the support of Ekostandart Ekspert. Together they evaluated a comprehensive range of environmental impact vectors, including air quality, water resources, soil, effects on biodiversity, noise pollution, and vibration intensity, among other factors.
The "ESIA" also concluded there would be positive social effects via due job creation and local economic development. "GCC MTO" is expected to have an economic multiplier effect on the wider Bukhara region, with the employment and training of about 10,000 workers. Local specialists will also lead training programs.
To involve the public and make the project accessible to nearby residents, open hearings were held in cooperation with the Khokimiyats (local governments) of Karakul, Zhondor, and Alat regions. At these meetings, "GCC MTO" representatives shared information about the project, including impacts on the environment and surrounding communities – to local stakeholders. The residents were also updated on the project’s progress and its regional economic importance.
The residents’ feedback was positive, with questions including employment opportunities for the local population, expected salaries and increases in regional income streams, machinery and equipment to be used on-site, and adjacent infrastructure improvements such as landscaping and creating new parks in the project’s vicinity.
Over the project’s life cycle, there will be regular "ESIAs" as "GCC MTO" growth and new facilities will be added. This ongoing monitoring will include regular and systematic measurement of environmental and social risks.
The complex will have production capacity of 720,000 tons of finished polymer products – enough to satisfy all domestic demand. The facility will produce diverse products from the core inputs of ethylene and propylene, which will substitute various raw materials currently being imported, and contribute significantly to Uzbekistan’s economic growth.
Over 70 percent of the plant’s production will be sold on the domestic market, enabling Uzbekistan’s industry to satisfy domestic demand and also export various raw materials to CIS countries, China, Turkiye, and South-East Asian nations.