Consultancy Services for IEE and EIA of Acquisition and Installation of 60mmscfd Process Plant under Bhola North Gas Field.

Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (BAPEX), (A Company of Petro Bangla) intended to procure and install a 60mmscfd process plant for Bhola North Gas Field, Bhola Sadar, Bhola District.

The project falls under Red Category as per ECR 2023 (Item No. 1: Mineral Project) and hence requires site clearance and Environmental Clearance before staring of the project activity.

The current average production of natural gas is about 2644 mmcfd. A total 965 billion cubic feet (BCF) of natural gas was produced in 2018-19 which was used by power- 43%, fertilizer-5.5%, captive power-15%, industry-16%, domestic-15%, CNG – 4% and others very small amount. Natural gas accounts for the 68.5% grid electricity generation while all the 7 urea fertilizer factories are dependent on natural gas for feedstock. (Source: Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources)

Bangladesh consumes 6,531 cubic feet of natural gas per capita every year (based on the 2017 population of 159,685,424 people), or 18 cubic feet per capita per day. (Source: Worldometer) Current energy policy and the development plans are focused to reduce import of petroleum products and thereby pressure on the foreign exchange through exploration, production and marketing of natural gas. The main objective of drilling project is to increase gas production to meet the high demand of natural gas. BAPEX plans to undertake exploration and development wells drilling to gather data on the potential for future gas exploration and development. Drilling operations will be designed to further determine the extent of gas within the project area

The consultancy services required under this project refers to the preparation of Initial Environmental Study (IEE) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report according to the requirement of the Bangladesh Government’s for the project along with obtaining Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) from Department of Environment (DoE).

The delivery of the services has been divided into the following task and its sub-tasks.

Task 1: Mobilization and Inception.

► Task 1a: Documentation of Existing Environmental Conditions.

► Task 1b: Legislative and Regulatory Considerations

Task 2: Detail Survey for Identification of Environmental and Social Features.

► Task 2a: Assessment of Environmental Significance of the Project Area.

► Task 2b: Environmental Quality Sampling and Testing.

► Task 2c: Assessment of Agricultural Impact.

► Task 2d: Assessment of Ecology and Impacts.

► Task 2e: Assessment of Socio-economic Status of the Project Area.

► Task 2f: Stakeholder Consultations.

• Task 3: Climate Change Resilient and Adaptation Assessment.

• Task 4: Impacts Assessment and Development of Mitigation Measures.

• Task 5: Analysis of Alternatives to the Proposed Project.

• Task 6: Establish an Environmental Management Plan (EMP).

• Task 7: Preparation of IEE Report and Submission.