Environmental and Social Assessment
Introduction
The Environmental and Social Audit Report provides information regarding environmental and social performance of POLY-GCL Petroleum Investment LTD and its general operation performance and their impacts on the community. The report covers key environmental and social concerns and issues raised by the community about past and present impacts caused by petroleum exploration, drilling and development process by giving emphasis on environmental and social performance of POLY-GCL Investment LTD. Public and stakeholder consultation was conducted with Doboo Wayn and Elele Woreda Administrators and elders to collect data about the general environmental and socio-economic impact of petroleum exploration and development. Since petroleum exploration activities in the area were carried out by a number of international companies for more than 4 decades, most of the environmental and social impacts are cumulative which aggravated by present operations and there is a great environmental and social concern among the community of the area regarding loss of flora & fauna, land degradation, displacement and involuntary resettlement and community health and safety issues.
Therefore, a team of experts has prepared the environmental and social audit report from Somali Region Environmental protection and rural land administration Bureau accompanying with two district administration. The Report is based on finding of a site visit undertaken in early late September 2022 and review of relevant international, national and regional environmental administrative, legal and policy requirements.
Description & Nature of the Project
Poly GCL Petroleum Investments Limited, a Chinese oil and gas company, signed 5 PPSA (Petroleum Production Sharing Agreements) with the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum on November 16, 2013 to undertake petroleum exploration and development activities in 10 Blocks having an aerial coverage of 117,151 km2. (117,151,00 hectares) The PPSA include one Development license in Calub and Hilala Blocks which the company appraised to proceed to development activity.
In this regard since 2014, Poly GCL has been conducting seismic exploration activity, since then up to now the company has acquired 663 KM23D seismic, 5,075Km 2D seismic, 62,480Km Gravity & Magnetic, 174Km TFEM data to study the area. Poly GCL drilled its first well in Sept 2015 known as Calub 11, since then the company has drilled a total of 16 wells ( 6 exploration wells, 8 appraisal wells and 2 production wells). In the newly drilled Poly GCL wells as well as the previous wells, the company has conducted well testing on 16 wells and production testing on 4 wells. With such exploration efforts, it has made additional natural gas discovery in Dohar area and it is currently being appraised.
The primary objective of Calub & Hilala environmental and social audit is to provide exact data and approach for understanding whether there are any environmental and social risks and how they might be mitigated. Above all the objective of the environmental audit is to measure the performance of POLY-GCL environmental management system and the effects of its overall operational activities on the environment & society against set criteria and standards by giving emphasis to environmental and social concerns & impacts recognized by the local community.
Specific Objective of the Environmental Audit
To identify strengths and weaknesses of the company with regarding environmental and social impacts
Analysis of Documents: – review and analysis of environmental audit tools such as Environmental & Social Impact Assessment study reports, national and local administrative and legal frameworks and policies.
Focus Group Discussion (FGD):- discussion with Woreda administrators and community elders was conducted in two districts of Doboo Wayn & Elele.
Observation: – observation through site visit of project-affected areas, quarry sites, seismic survey areas, solid waste disposal sites and other aspects are observed through field visit.
Regulatory Requirements National Legislations
Environmental Policy of Ethiopia- 1997
The key national law regulating environmental issues is the Environmental Policy of Ethiopia, which was adopted in 1997. The Policy regulates many aspects of environmental protection and management, including environmental impact assessment.
Environmental Impact Assessment- 299/2000
According to the Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation, environmental impact assessment is obligatory for all types of projects and activates, which are likely to have direct or indirect environmental and social impacts.
In addition, according to Article 11 of this proclamation if unforeseen fact of serious implication is realized after the submission of an environmental impact study report, the authority or the relevant regional environmental agency may, as may be appropriate, order the environmental impact assessment to be revised to be redone in order to address the implications.
In the case of this project there are many unforeseen environmental and social impacts occurring, which necessitates the revision of all ESIA reports of the project both on appropriateness & execution of the Environmental & Social Management and Monitoring Plan.
Rural land Administration and Use Proclamation- 456/2005
As stipulated under Article 7 sub article 3 of this proclamation holder of rural land who is evicted for purpose of public use shall be given compensation proportional to the development he, has made on the land and the property acquired, or shall be given substitute land thereon. Where the rural landholder is evicted by federal government, the rate of compensation would be determined based on the federal land administration law. Whereas the rural landholder is evicted by regional governments, the rate, of compensation would be determined based on the rural land administration laws of regions.
Land related issues of this project are not negligible, there are many complains and disappointments related with displacement, loss of grazing & agricultural land and access to natural resources. Therefore, based on national and regional rural land administration and use
regulatory frameworks it’s important to identify all the complained land ownership or title
which is a baseline for compensation works.