Consultancy Services for Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of INTRACO TIANLONG LPG Cylinder Manufacturing Plant

LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) sector continues to grow reasonably and steadily to meet the increasing gas demand of the developing world. LPG is a cleaner and affordable alternative source of energy which has much lesser impact to the environment. LPG is mainly used by households for cooking and by some light engineering workshops, such as, fuel for wielding. Due to the depletion of gas reserves in the country, the demand for LPG and other energy sources are increasing. As of 2015, the natural gas reserves of Bangladesh are 14.16 trillion cubic feet which may last till 2031, provided that the current rate of extraction is maintained, according to the Government statistics. The rapid use of natural gas in power production has been the main source of gas consumption and contributing to the 56% of domestic energy demand. As a consequence, the gas fields are depleting and thereby putting pressure on the energy sector.

INTRACO TIANLONG LPG Cylinder Manufacturing Industry Limited, a concern of Intraco Group, is exploring the business opportunity of LPG to serve the households as one of the best energy solutions. To this effect, Intraco has formed a Joint Venture with a leading and famous LPG cylinder manufacturing company of China. Accordingly, an LPG Cylinder Manufacturing Plant has been established in the name INTRACO TIANLONG LPG Cylinder Manufacturing Industry Limited to meet up the country-wise demand of the consumers. The proposed plant is located at Batpara, Dhonpur, Sadar Dakkhin, Comilla District under the Chittagong Division.

The overall objective of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is to provide guidance to INTRACO TIANLONG LPG Cylinder Manufacturing Industry Limited, its Contractors and other Operators to plan, build and operate the proposed LPG Cylinder Manufacturing Plant in an environmentally responsible manner, ensuring that all negative effects and impacts are prevented or mitigated and positive impacts are enhanced, in compliance with the rules and regulations of Department of Environment of GOB.

§  Collection and review of all available relevant data and reports.

§  Collection of primary and secondary environmental and socio-economic data.

§  Establish the environmental and social baseline conditions of the project.

§  Assessment of the baseline environmental and social condition through field surveys and investigation (sampling & testing).

§  Conduct socio-economic field surveys through Semi-structured Questionnaire, Key Informant Interviews and/or Public Consultation through Focused Group Discussions.

§  Conduct environmental quality monitoring sampling and testing for air quality, surface & groundwater quality, soil quality, and noise & vibration level.

§  Conduct ambient air quality monitoring for 24 hours duration each one location and carry out testing of defined parameters, such as, Fine Particulate Matter (PM_2.5), Respirable Dust Content (PM₁₀), Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM), Sulphur Di-Oxide (SO₂), Oxides of Nitrogen (NO_X), Carbon Monoxide (CO).

§  Collection of surface water samples from one location and carry out testing of defined parameters, such as, pH, Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD₅).

§  The two parameters (pH and TDS) were tested on-site using Field Test Kit and rest of the surface water samples were tested at Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) laboratory.

§  Collection of groundwater samples from one location and carry out testing of defined parameters, such as, pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Alkalinity, Chloride (Cl-), Arsenic (As), and Iron (Fe).

§  The two parameters (pH and TDS) were tested on-site using Field Test Kit and rest of the groundwater samples were tested at Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) laboratory.

§  Carry out ambient noise monitoring to determine the ambient noise levels at two locations (both day and night time).

§  Assess the existing physical environment, biological environment, and socio-economic environment.

§  Physical environment covered different physical natural features and included major parameters & factors, such as, atmosphere and climate (temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed, sunshine, & cloud coverage), topography, physiography, geology, seismicity, soil, Agro-ecological zones, water resources (surface & ground water), hydrology, environmental quality (air, noise, surface water, & groundwater quality), etc.

§  Biological environment covered factors related to life and included major features, such as, bio-ecological zones, terrestrial ecosystem (flora & fauna), aquatic ecosystem, protected areas & red book species, etc.

§  Socio-economic environment covered anthropological factors, such as, demography, age, sex/gender, literacy, occupational pattern, land use, cropping pattern, transport & communication, poverty, recreational activities, archaeological & cultural heritage, important environmental and social features, etc.

§  Conduct analysis of the potential environmental impacts and mitigation measures of the nature, scale and magnitude of the impacts that is likely to cause on the environment.

§  Preparation of an EIA Report, including the EMP and the environmental monitoring plan, in compliance with the requirements of the Department of Environment of the Government of Bangladesh.

§  GIS mapping and spatial analysis of satellite imagery was used to identify present administrative areas and other boundaries/ constraints which shall be considered for both the environmental and social assessments.

§  Organization of stakeholder / public consultation meetings within five-kilometre radius from the Project site.

§  Planning and organization of public consultation meeting, including selection of venue, date, time etc.

§  Preparation of invitation letter and banner for the public consultation.

§  Preparation of invitation list and send invitation letter to all participants.

§  As part of the EIA Report, preparation of Public Consultation Meeting Report with photographs, attendance list and summary of the meeting discussion and consultation.

§  Successfully Received Site Clearance (SC) and Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) from Department of Environment (DoE).