Morocco - Jorf Lasfar Power Project : environmental impact assessment (Vol. 1 of 6)

Draft.Executive Summary ' Voll -~~~~~~~. - .. --e a -- - X Environmental Impact Assessment Jorf Lasfar Power Plant., Morocco Spon sored by.: * ~CMS Generation -Co; * ABB Energy. Venturesln nC. TPrepRred by:~ Radian ternationa LLC . . OJune 1996 . IAPIANE * .-... - .* : . CMSGenerINTERNATIONALIM - .~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I  a I 4  Draft Executive Summary Environmental Impact Assessment Jorf Lasfar Power Plant Sponsored by CMS Generation Co. ABB Energy Ventures Inc. Prepared by Radian International LLC June 10, 1996  a I  Table of Contents Page 1.0 Introduction ........................................ ES-1 2.0 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework ........... ................. ES-3 3.0 Project Description ........................................ ES-5 4.0 Environmental Baseline ......................................... ES-ll 5.0 Audit of Existing Conditions ........................................ ES-13 6.0 Potential Future Impacts of Proposed Expansion ................. ES-14 6.1 Impacts of Construction ......................................... ES-14 6.2 Inpacts of Operation ......................................... ES-16 7.0 Analysis of Alternatives .ES-24 8.0 Mitigation and Environmental Management Plan .ES-25 9.0 Monitoring Plan .ES-30 10.0 Interagency and Public Partcipation ............................... ES-30 Draft Executive Summary ES-i June 10, 1996  s  DRAFT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This document is a draft executive summary of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that is currently being prepared. Although most of the work on the EIA has been completed, some analyses and conclusions may result in revisions when the final EIA is submitted to the World Bank and other international lending institutions. 1.0 Introduction CMS Generation Co. (CMS) and ABB Energy Ventures Inc. (ABB), hereafter referred to as "Project sponsors", have formed a joint venture for the purpose of acquiring the right to use and operate two existing 330 Megawatt (MW) coal-fired units and the construction and operation of two additional 348 MW coal fired units at the Jorf Lasfar Power Plant (JLPP) in Morocco. This CMS/ABB consortium activity is pursuant to the terms of an agreement with Morocco's Office National de VElectricitW (ONE). The privatization and subsequent expansion of the JLPP (the "Project") is a vital part of Morocco's plans to meet a rapidly increasing demand for electric power. The location of the project is shown in Figure 1. This EIA has been prepared by Radian Intemational under contract to CMS and ABB. The EIA is required as a condition for obtaining project financing and loan guarantees from the World Bank, the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (Ex-Im), and the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). In addition to meeting the requirements of lending institutions, the EIA will be submitted to the Moroccan Ministry of Environment for review and approval. Although there are not yet any Moroccan EIA requirements, the Ministry of the Environment is developing EIA guidelines and this report is intended to be consistent with those guidelines. The proposed Project is critical to meeting Morocco's energy strategy which includes the extension of electricity to the more than 40% of the population now without electric power. Through privatization of electric power production, Morocco can eam immediate revenues through sale of an operating concession on existing units and benefit from efficient power production from new units. As is documented in this EIA, the expansion of the JLPP, Morocco's largest power plant, will be accomplished in a manner that is protective of the environment while providing much needed cost-effective new power supplies. The proposed project will meet all applicable environmental discharge and ambient guidelines. Draft Executive Summary ES-1 June 10, 1996  | Om France NORTH OcFAN ~Spain - /_1~~4~ Algriar'> r - - - 7 7/. (1 d f. --JWR o -rt 'L1 tar ...,;, .LA.... AR : -- 0 ~~~~~ ~ ~~~Libya Power Plant ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Csalac Mouilay y ^ Abdellah <~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 20 Jor Lastar SCAL: VJLWt IRS ,{ Power PlantJ Vo2 Figure 1. Location of the Jorf-Lasfar Power Plant Project Draft Executive Summary ES-2 june 10, 1996  -I 2.0 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework The Moroccan Government is in the process of developing environmental legislation and regulations. Currently, there are no Moroccan environmental standards or regulations applicable to new projects such as the JLPP. However, the Project will be subject to environmental ambient and discharge guidelines established by the World Bank and potential co-financers, including OPIC and Ex-Im. Project Environmental Guidelines The World Bank, OPIC, and Ex-Im have adopted slightly different environmental guidelines and policies. In order to be eligible for financial assistance from these institutions, the Project will need to comply with their respective environmental guidelines. Where there are differing requirements among the three sets of guidelines, the Project will comply with the most stringent one. Table 1 provides this most stringent combination of requirements. These are called the project guidelines. Local Permitting In Morocco, an application for a permit to construct a new facility must be presented to the relevant local authority. For the JLPP, the local authority is the Commune of Moulay Abdellah. The rural commune is the local government subdivision within a province. Upon receipt of the application, the local authority will request input from various Ministries (Public Works, Civil Protection, Employment, Health, Environment, etc.). Coordination of these authorities could eventually be done at the level of the corresponding province (El Jadida Province) rather than at the level of the commune itself. The following documents are needed to complete the permit application: A formal letter requesting the permit; Engineering drawings of the new facility and a corresponding engineering description; Evidence of compliance with the regulations for the design and construction of tanks and tank farms; and A summary of the environmental impacts of the Project. Draft Executive Summary ES-3 June 10, 1996  Table 1. JLPP Project Guidelines Topic- Parameter Crtexia Ambient Air Quality Particulates (TSP) Annual mean 70 ,g/m3 Maximum 24 hr Avg.