Draft terms of environment impact survey for gas project completed

The draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) terms of scope (ToS) for Esso Exploration and Production Limited’s (EEPGL) proposed gas-to-energy project has been completed.

This was disclosed by Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Kemraj Parsram, who told Stabroek News on Thursday that the agency is being very meticulous in ensuring that the ToS captures all pertinent aspects from the public scoping meetings that were held, along with the inputs received from individual submissions.

Parsram noted that while the draft ToS for the EIA has been completed, the agency is currently having discussions with the consultants regarding its content.

It is still unclear when the EIA is expected to commence.

A series of public scoping meetings intended to help craft the terms of scope for the EIA’s conduct was held in July after EEPGL and its coventurers applied to the EPA for environmental authorisation to construct and operate an offshore and onshore pipeline, a natural-gas processing plant, and a temporary materials offloading facility. After screening the application, the EPA had determined that an EIA was required. Parsram said that the potential impact of the project is not yet known, hence the requirement of an EIA.

At least five to six recommendations were submitted for consideration to the EPA. Some of the submissions have the signatures of multiple persons.

EEPGL notes in its project summary that the project entails the construction and operation of a 12inch pipeline, approximately 220 kilometers long, from the Liza Phase 1, and Liza Phase 2, Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels in the offshore Stabroek Block, to an onshore natural gas liquids (NGL) and natural gas processing plant (NGL Plant) located at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara. The pipeline is expected to transport up to approximately 50 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of dry gas to the NGL and has a maximum flow of approximately 120 MMSCFD.

Additionally, residents were informed that the project site will be located 11 kilometers from Patentia and will be at least one to two miles inland from the Demerara River.

The project is expected to begin operations in 2024 with construction expected to commence by mid2022. In a public notice, the EPA stated that the project, with attendant onshore and offshore components, could have possible effects on the environment, including impacts to marine water quality, air quality, marine and terrestrial flora and fauna, and socio-economic resources, among others.