Sonker Bulk Liquids Terminal – Basin 3, Sokhna port, Suez, Egypt - currently contains a specialized jetty of 415 meters length and 17 meters depth, which allows it to accommodate two 120.000-ton tankers simultaneously.
Download PDF DocumentSonker Bunkering Company S.A.E. was founded in 2003 as a petroleum storage, handling, and bunker supply company operating at Basin 3, Sokhna Port free zone, Red Sea near Suez city in Egypt. It is an example of a successful private public partnership as it is jointly owned by the Amiral Holdings Group and companies associated with Egyptian Governmental entities, see pie chart.
The Sonker terminal has been operational since 2009, when it started handling Egypt basic industries corporation’s ammonia exports. EBIC has two ammonia storage tanks of 110,000 m³ in total within the Sonker terminal area. Sonker also operated a contract with EGAS to berth LNG floating storage and regasification units at the Sonker jetty between Q2 2015
Q3 2018. In the period 2015-2020 Sonker built a world class bulk liquids tank farm (the SBLT-project) consisting of storage tanks for Gasoil (100,000 m³) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG, 150,000 m³).
Sonker has signed and is operating a long-term supply point agreement with Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation – EGPC. This agreement is for the use of the Sonker bulk liquids terminal and includes the delivery of Gasoil and LPG by vessels at the Sonker jetty, the handling, storage and the redelivery into the EGPC underground national network.
The Sonker bulk liquids terminal (SBLT) is located in Basin 3 at Sokhna Port near Suez city in Egypt and spans an area of 400,000 m2 inside which the EBIC facility has been realized on an area of 50,000 m2.
Phase 1 of the SBLT development is to be followed by other phases, reaching a total storage capacity of 1-1.2 million m3 at the end situation.
In accordance with law 4/1994, law of the environment, and its executive regulations (ERs), Sonker has prepared and submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with the application for the license of new projects and/or extension of existing facilities. Accordingly, environmental requirements are integrated into the existing licensing system.
Sections Pertaining to the Project:In addition to law No. 4/1994, work environment and labour protection, are governed by the following laws:
The environmental impact assessment study satisfies the requirements and guidelines for projects as financed by both the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Both IFC & EBRD require the project to abide by its performance standards and guidelines to ensure that the project is environmentally sound and sustainable. Performance standards are applied to manage social and environmental risks and impacts.
IFC & EBRD Performance StandardsA scoping exercise was carried out during the commencement of the study to include the neighboring activities as well as the Bedouin community south of the project location, which is the only settlement in the area. At a later stage, a public disclosure meeting was held to discuss the study findings. Feedback from different stakeholders during both stages are summarized and incorporated in the report.
Performance Standard 2: Labour and Working ConditionsThe report addresses the employment aspects during the different project phases. SONKER adheres to the Egyptian labour law (which was updated to reflect the ILO requirements), including work conditions and child protection laws.
Performance Standard 3: Pollution Prevention and AbatementThe report investigates the environmental releases from different sources during construction and operation phases and their potential impacts. It also investigates relevant mitigation measures to minimize potentially significant impacts of pollutants.
Performance Standard 4: Community Health, Safety and SecurityThe study assesses the potential impact of the project on the surrounding activities as well as on the workforce during the different project phases. A Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) is prepared to quantify potential risks related to fire or explosion.
Performance Standard 5: Land Acquisition and Involuntary ResettlementLand acquisition for the project components does not involve involuntary resettlement.
Performance Standard 6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Natural Resource ManagementThe biological baseline in the project area was investigated and relevant impacts assessed.
Performance Standard 7: Indigenous PeopleThere are no indigenous people at the project location. Moreover, the tank farm exists within an operational port. However, the study presents the participation of the Bedouins in the consultation process of the project, and the actions taken to identify their needs.
Performance Standard 8: Cultural HeritageElements of potential cultural heritage value near the project location were identified and presented in the study.
Egypt is a signatory to various conventions concerning environment protection, among which are: the environmental modification convention; the african convention on the conservation of nature and natural resources; the vienna convention for the protection of the ozone layer; the convention for the prevention of pollution from ships; the Barcelona convention for the protection of the mediterranean sea against pollution; the Brussels convention on civil liability for oil pollution damage and the Moscow treaty for nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere.
Issue | Baseline Condition |
---|---|
Climatic Factors | In general, the climate in Sokhna is characterized by a warm, dry weather most of the year. The dominant winds are from north and north-west direction with an occurrence of 84%. The wind direction with the highest occurrence is the northern wind. The area lies within an arid region. The maximum temperature in the Sokhna region ranges from 20 degrees in January till up to 37 degrees during the months of July and August. Rain is episodic and localized; often in the form of short, heavy downpours causing flash floods. Maximum rainfall occurs in February, followed by January, March and December. The weather is mostly dry during the rest of the year. The relative humidity has an annual mean of about 55% and reaches its peak in the period from October to January and its minimum in May and June |
Air Quality | All results from monitoring at five different locations within and surrounding the Sokhna port were found well within the acceptable limits of Egyptian environmental law 4/94, including total VOC levels, which were well below the normal expected levels. |
Noise | Noise levels measured at five different locations within and surrounding the Sokhna port were all found well within the permissible limits |
Soil Quality | The soil quality poses no significant threat to humans, animals and plant life. |
Ground Water Resources | Heavy metal, TPH, Glycol and Total VOC levels were not detected in the samples (lower than the detection limit). |
Ecology | The project area is part of the coastal desert plain and includes some of its typical floral species. The area is roughly flat with a higher vegetative cover towards the north, reaching approximately 30% composed mainly of vegetation. However, the specific project area is almost devoid of any vegetation. The existence of fine-grained suspended sediment in water column and on the seafloor does not allow corals to grow. Also, during this study, poverty of the area in marine flora and fauna was noticed. |
Archaeological Sites | There are no sites of archaeological importance within or nearby the project location. |
Sonker to manage and mitigate the environmental impacts as below:
2.1-Construction Phase:Issue | Baseline condition |
---|---|
Air Quality | |
Noise Level |
|
Seawater and Groundwater Quality |
|
Biological Environment |
|
Workplace Health and Safety |
|
Issue | Measure |
---|---|
Air quality |
|
Noise Level |
|
Seawater and Ground Water Quality |
|
Soil and Groundwater |
|
Biological Environment |
|
Workplace Health and Safety |
|
The surrounding activities are limited to industrial and tourism sectors. An industrial area to the west of the port includes a worker’s camp, over 9 km east of the project location. A Bedouin settlement also exists over 6 km to the southwest of the project location. The closest tourism resort is approximately 3 km north of the project location.
Mining and manufacturing are among the basic economic sectors in the Governorate. Petroleum extraction and refinement, chemical and cement industries, and food industries, are the backbone of the industrial base in Suez.
Traditional activities are centered on fishing and livestock. Cultivation is strained by the poor quality of the soil, and the limited amount of fresh water to grow vegetables and fruits.
Sonker to manage and mitigate the environmental impacts as below:
Issue | Measure |
---|---|
Land Taken for the Project | Land used for the project lies within an operational port, which has been allocated as a tank farm since the master planning phase of the port. This project does not include any components outside the port fences. |
Air and Noise Emissions during Construction and Operation | the study shows that noise and air quality impacts would not be significant outside project boundaries. |
Road Transportation Activities | Trucking activities are limited to the construction phase, which is both of low magnitude and duration. Accordingly, the project operation will have no interference with road networks, except for transportation of the working staff. |
Utilities (Water and Electricity) | The project does not involve industrial activity since it provides temporary storage, loading and unloading of LPG and Gas Oil. The electricity and potable water demands are acceptable. |
Cultural Environment | The presence of foreign labour, with a cultural background that is different from that of the locals may cause some cultural tensions. However, the locals are used to the presence of foreigners in the port area. Any foreign workers will be instructed to respect the local prevailing culture. |
Employment |
|
Influx of Construction Crew | it is not expected that there will be any significant activities resulting from catering for the influx of workers or due do misconduct of the workforce. |
Community Health | In view of the project insignificant atmospheric and noise emissions, it is not expected to pose any community health impacts. |
Impacts Related to Security Personnel | The project is located within the premises of an operational port. There is no interaction between the guards with any locals outside the port fence. |
The gaps identified by the Independent Environmental and Social Consultant (IESC) during its due diligence process have been addressed in an Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP). The ESAP summarizes mitigation and improvement measures that have been implemented by Sonker to ensure that operations shall be carried out in compliance with relevant local laws and regulations, as well as with the Lenders Environmental and Social (ES) Policy and other requirements and standards applicable to the project.
During the implementation of this project, Sonker should meet the requirements set down by relevant national, IFC and EBRD environmental, social, health and safety legislation and standards, as defined in the Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) to be fully implemented by Sonker. The most stringent regulations and/or requirements will be applied, in order to ensure environmental protection and community health and safety.