PRESCO PLC EIA NIGERIA...Presco Plc: Proposed Sakponba Oil Palm and Rubber Plantation Development Project October 2017 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report

PRESCO PLC

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT

ASSESSMENT (ESIA) OF THE PROPOSED

SAKPONBA OIL PALM AND RUBBER

PLANTATION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AT

ORHIONMWON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA,

EDO STATE, NIGERIA

FINAL REPORT

OCTOBER 2017

SUMMARY

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the Proposed Sakponba Oil Palm and Rubber Plantation

Development Project at Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria

Submitted to:

Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja

Final Report

Prepared by

Foremost Development Services Limited

21 Mercy Eneli Street, Surulere, Lagos. Tel: 01-8981250, 08033314800.

Email:[email protected], Website: www.foremostdevelopmentservices.com

October 2017

SUMMARY

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.foremostdevelopmentservices.com/

Presco Plc: Proposed Sakponba Oil Palm and Rubber Plantation Development Project October 2017

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report Page xvii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (ES)

ES 1.0 History and Business of Presco Plc

The proponent of the proposed sakponba oil palm and rubber plantation development

project; Presco Plc, is a subsidiary of Siat (Societe d’investissement pour l’Agriculture

Tropicale), a Belgian agro-industrial company that specializes in industrial as well as

smallholder plantations of tree crops, mainly oil palm and rubber, and allied processing

industries such as palm oil mills, palm oil refining/fractionation, soap works and crumb

rubber factories in Africa including Nigeria, Ghana, Gabon and Cote D’Ivoire.

The company operates the Obaretin Estate (a concession of 5,800 hectares) and the

Ologbo Estate (a concession of about 13,600 hectares), both located in Edo State, and the

Cowan Estate, a concession of 2,800 hectares in Delta State. It supplies specialty fats and

oils of outstanding quality to customer specifications and assures a reliability of supply of

its products year round. This is made possible by the integrated nature of the company’s

production process.

In 2011 Presco Plc acquired a degraded savannah of 14,400 ha at Orhiomwon Local

Government Area of Edo State. The company intends to develop Sakponba project in

strict conformity to the principles and criteria of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil

and best management practices that is reputed for.

Just as the company is expanding in size, its corporate environment is also expanding.

The Company has over 5,000 individual and institutional shareholders, both Nigerian

(40%) and foreign (60%). Currently, the company employs about 3,448 people of which

469 are permanent staff and 2,979 are contract workers.

ES 2.0 Purpose and Need for the Project

Presco Plc is a public limited liability company with corporate head office at the

company's Obaretin Estate near Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The company was

initially incorporated in 1991 as a private limited liability company. The Siat group

became the majority shareholder in December 1997 and in 2002 the company became a

public limited liability company, with a successful Initial Public Offer (IPO). The

company has about 5,500 shareholders, both foreign (Siat Group, 60%) and Nigerian

(individual and institutional, 40%), and its shares are being actively traded in the

Nigerian Stock Exchange.

SUMMARY


Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report Page xviii

The company has expanded the capacities of its palm oil mill from 30tons FFB/Hr to

60tons FFB/Hr and refinery from 60 tons to 100 tons and has plans to increase the

capacities further. The prospect is high for idle capacities at both the palm oil mill and the

refinery because the FFB harvested from the existing oil palm plantations could not

satisfy the capacities of the two processing facilities. This situation portends adverse

implication for the total annual turnover of the company and the nation’s oil palm

industry.

In order to address these problems, Presco Plc proposes to extend its plantings of oil palm

and rubber at Sakponba. By so doing, the company should be able to harvest more FFB to

optimize the mill capacity utilization and enough cup lump to process when the company

establishes its own rubber factory which is already under way. This would increase the

total annual income and help to meet the company’s financial obligations to its

shareholders, as well as corporate social responsibilities.

As a requirement of the environmental laws and regulations, an EIA application form and

Project description were submitted to the Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv).

Based on the initial assessment of the submission and subsequent site visit by the officials

of FMEnv, the proposed Sakponba oil palm and rubber plantation development project

was classified as Category I EIA requiring panel review.

ES 3.0 Proposed Project Location and Description

Sakponba Concession is located in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, south of Edo

State of Nigeria between longitude 5054’0”E and 6004’30” E and latitude 5045’0”N and

5051’0”N. It is about 53 km from Benin, on the Benin/Abraka road. It is bounded on the

north by government reserved forest area, to the south by River Ethiope, to the east by

Ehinmwin stream and/or Abraka Stream and on the west by the Iyanchian stream. The

total project area is about 14,400 hectares.

The vegetation of the project site is degraded savannah. The proposed development will

not involve the clearing of natural forest. It will not also involve the clearing of riparian

forests as there are no rivers traversing the land. It will essentially involve the clearing of

degraded savannah and farmlands. The best agricultural practices the company has

sustained in its plantation development will be used. These include zero burning,

integrated pest management and minimal use of agrochemicals.

Two crops of oil palm and rubber will be planted in regular plantations using planting

materials to be procured from the existing plantations of the company. The physical

SUMMARY


Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report Page xix

development will include plantations, oil palm and rubber nurseries, road network and

buildings.

The planting of the proposed site will be done in phases, with the first planting intended

for 2017 and subsequent plantings phased over 15 years to terminate in 2031. The

average rate of planting is estimated at 900-1000 hectares per year.

The planting materials to be used for the two crops of oil palm and rubber are the types

that are very well adapted to the Nigerian environment and local conditions.

The fresh fruit bunches (FFB) to be harvested from the plantation will initially be

transported to the main estate of the company at Obaretin for processing. In the later

years, a processing factory will be established to process the cup lumps to be harvested

from the rubber plantation.

Presco Plc is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and is

committed to implementing the principles and criteria of the RSPO in the development

and operation of the proposed sakponba oil palm and rubber plantation development

project to ensure that it achieves the complementarities of economic, environmental and

social factors.

The bulk of the solid waste arising from the operations of the plantations will be

essentially organic waste that will be managed by recycling within the plantation. In the

later years when liquid effluent is generated, an effluent treatment plant will be

established

ES 4.0 EIA Study Procedure

The EIA study was carried out after due consultation with the Federal Ministry of

Environment (FMEnv), and in accordance with the Ministry’s Procedural Guidelines, and

Terms of Reference (TOR) and scope of work, approved by the Ministry.

ES 5.0 Verification by the FMEnv

The FMEnv visited the proposed plantation development project site in order to verify

the proposals and statements in the Presco Plc’s application for an environmental impact

assessment permit.

ES 6.0 Consultations with and Participation by Stakeholders

The Stakeholders identified were: (i) Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv), Abuja

(ii) Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities, Edo State; (iii) Orhionmwon Local

Government Area; (iv) Project host and/or affected communities.

The objective of the consultation was to inform and educate stakeholders on details of the

project, its justification, discuss the scope of study and the project’s potential and

associated environmental impacts, and obtain their views and comments. The summary

SUMMARY


Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report Page xx

of the communities’ assessment of the likely environmental impacts of the proposed

project was that the proposed project would largely have insignificant adverse impacts.

ES 7.0 Project Justification, Alternative Considered and Envisage Sustainability

The proposed project will complement considerably both the FMARD

Transformation Agenda and the economic transformation strategy and plans of the

country. Justification is therefore found for the proposed plantation (oil palm and

rubber) development in its potential to: i) Add value to the existing production of

the company, ii) Provide direct employment, iii) Create additional jobs, iv)

Contribute to the socio-economic development of neighboring communities, and iv)

Increased economic benefits to the nation.

The alternatives considered were: (i) Do nothing option”; (ii) Alternative project location;

(iii) Alternative plantation expansion methods; (iv) Smallholder development alternative;

(v) Third Party Services. Of all the alternatives considered, the full development of the

project as planned is favoured.

The project will be financed from the company’s yearly turnover and profits. The

financial performance of the company has improved considerably. Presco Plc is listed on

the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The financial performance of the company over the years

would enable it to execute and sustain the project operations. The estimated cost of the

project is N10.9 billion Nigerian Naira.

Technically, best hands and agricultural practices shall be employed to carry out the

project to ensure its technical sustainability while environmental sustainability will be

attained through Presco Plc internal Environmental Management System (EMS) that is

already in place. The economic life span of an oil palm plantation is about 20-25 years

and rubber plantation about 35-40 years or more after which the palm trees and rubber

trees are felled and then replanted. With proper upkeep, the oil palm and rubber tree can

produce for more than two decades. The envisaged upkeep practices include routine ring

weeding, pruning, slashing and fertilizer application.

ES 8.0 Relevant Environmental Laws, Decrees, Regulations and Edicts

The following laws and regulations apply to the proposed Sakponba oil palm and rubber

plantation development project: (i) National Policy on Environment (FEPA, 1989);

(ii) EIA Act Cap E12 LFN, 2004; (iii) National Guidelines and Standards for

Environmental Pollution Control in Nigeria, (FEPA,1991); (iv) National Effluent

Limitations Regulations S.I.8 (FEPA,1991); (v) National Pollution Abatement in

Industries and Facilities Generating Wastes Regulations S.I.9 (FEPA,1991); (vi) S.I.15

SUMMARY


Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report Page xxi

National Environmental Protection (Management of Solid and Hazardous Wastes)

Regulations 1991; (vii) Environmental Edicts of Edo States’ Ministry of Environment

and Public Utilities; (viii) Edo State Environmental Waste Management Board

Edicts/Mandate; (ix) Local Government Area Mandate on environmental sanitation and

solid waste management; (x) Factory Act 1990 (2004); (xi) Nigerian Land Use Act, 1978;

(xii) The Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Laws.

ES 9.0 Existing Baseline Environment

The biophysical socio-economic and health environments that might be impacted by the

proposed project were ascertained from field data gathering, previous natural resources

and environmental studies and in-house environmental records of the company spanning

only wet season. Rainfall, temperature and sunshine hours (1995-2015), Relative

Humidity, Wind speed and direction were obtained from meteorological record of Preco

Plc at both Obaretin and Ologbo estates. The spatial boundary for the proposed project is

about 10km from the project boundary.

Automatic reading equipment was employed to determine air quality, north and south of

the project site. The concentrations of SO2, H2S, CO, CO2, NOX, VOC were all below the

limits set by FMEnv. The concentrations of particulate matters are also below the set

limit, showing clean, unpolluted ambient air in the locations. The noise level was within

the Regulatory standard across the communities and project area. The values were

distributed between 46.1dB(A) and 64.3 dB(A).

The result of analysis conducted on the samples showed that the quality of the

groundwater within and around the site did not reflect any form of contamination. The

pH was around 6 and other parameters were quite low compared to the standard. Also, all

the microbiological parameters were within the permissible limits recommended by

WHO and FMENV for wholesome water. Similarly, the quality of the surface water

within and around the p r o j e c t site had overall satisfactory quality compared to the

Standard. The pH was around 6 and other parameters were quite low compared to the

standard. All the pollution indices also had value within the limit.

Surface Water quality varied from one location to another within the proposed project

area. The pH varied from 5.72 – 6.83, Conductivity 102 – 120.6 (μS/cm), Turbidity <1.0-

1.0, Suspended solids 10.8-63.0 mg/l, Dissolved oxygen 8.9-12.4, Biological oxygen

demand <0.1 mg/l, Chemical Oxygen Demand <1.0-16 mg/l. All the values determined

SUMMARY


Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report Page xxii

for heavy metals in the water bodies occurred in low concentration much below the

recommended limits by FMENV and WHO. Water temperature was 28ºC ±0.3.

The results of the laboratory analyses of the bottom sediment samples collected during

the field exercise revealed that the pH value of the sediment samples were within the

range of 5.49 and 5.57 with an average of 5.53. The result of analysis however showed

that the nutrient level is high with no traces of trace metals detected. Heavy metals such

as Lead, Copper, Cadmium and Nickel had values less than 0.01.

The geology of the project site is laid on Sedimentary Basin reffered to as Benin

Formation or the Coastal Plain Sands.

The inland, non-marine, continental deposits are predominantly massive Coastal Plain

Sands of coarse grain and sandstones while the Marine (coast) portion comprises of

pronounced offshore Sands, Clay, and Shales.

The Coastal Plain Sands are usually of high resistivity on account of the pores being

filled with carbonate matrix. This also carry on attendant gradual increase in permeability

downwards with lower resistivity. The Coastal Plains Sands is also known as the Benin

Formation. It is a member the Dahomey Basin; the sedimentary basin of the South

Western Nigeria, which stretches from southeastern Ghana in the west to the western

flank of the Niger Delta in the East.

Geologically, the terrian is equally part of the Niger Delta Basin. A sedimentary basin

which covers most areas of Rivers, bayelsa, Edo and Delta states. The Niger Delta

consists of broad riverine area through which River Niger enters into the Atlantic Ocean.

The geological sequence in the Niger Delta is made up of deltaic Plains, the Benin

Formation and the Ameki Formation.

The Benin Formation otherwise referred to as Coastal Plain sands covers the upper part

of the entire Niger Delta region, extending from the west across the whole niger delta

area southwards beyond the present coastline. It comprises over 90% sand with shale

intercalations. The sand /shale ratio 9:1 at the top to 7:3 at the base (courtesy

standardization of geological). The Benin Formation in the marine or offshore description

is non-fossilferous, arkosic, gravelly, poorly-sorted, commonly cross-bedded sandstones.

An exploratory soil survey was carried out at the project site in which existing road

network was exploited as traverses across the land, from the north to the south. Sampling

points were random but guided by the collective influence of vegetation and topography

on soil variability. Necessary morphological characterizations were conducted by

SUMMARY


Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report Page xxiii

systematically placing transect on already existing foot paths and other minor roads that

interconnect the entire site thus, forming a good network of access routes to the land.

These foot paths transverse across the land in a north south direction, with Orogho

community road serving as the base line.

On the whole, five profile pits were dug, with four laboratory samples collected from

each of the profile pits at depths 0-30, 30-60, 60-90 and 90-120cm totaling 20 samples.

The depth varied depending on the peculiarity of the soil type.

The results of laboratory analysis of soil samples as presented in Table 4-28 compared to

the range and classification of basic soil fertility properties as presented in Table 4-29 are

within pedological expectations for soils of sedimentary origins, under a fairly heavy

rainfall regime and of coastal plain sands as specific parent material. Fertility is largely

controlled by two major factors – soil texture (in terms of clay content) and organic

carbon content. While texture is largely dependent on the nature of parent rock and can

hardly be influenced, organic matter is vegetation dependent. The peculiarity of this

location is that the vegetation is subjected to constant annual bush burning and grazing,

leaving no time for organic matter build-up. That is to postulate that once this menace of

bush burning is put under an effective check system, the organic matter status would be

restored and native fertility status also restored with minimum applications of inorganic,

organic or combination of both fertilizers.

The characteristic rainforest has disappeared and it is replaced by a bewildering grassland

dominated by the spear grass (Imperata cylindricum and Andropogon spp.). Within this

‘sea’ of grasses are islands of secondary forest at various stages of succession. Moreover,

within these insular secondary forests are farmlands cultivated with cassava, yam, maize

and/plantain.

The dominant species of flora at Sakponba concession area include herbs and grasses

such as Alternanthera brasilensis, Andropogon gayanus, Andropogon tectorum, Aspilia

africana, Chromolaena odorata, Costus afer, Commelina erecta, Crotolaria rectusa,

Emilia praetermissa, Euphorbia heterophylla, Euphorbia hirta, Euphorbia hyssopifolia,

Imperata cylindricum, Ipomoea aquatica, Ipomoea involucrata, Ludwigia decurrens,

Ludwigia hyssopifolia, Mitracarpus villosus, Nephthrytis constricta, Marantochloa

leucantha, Palisota hirsuta and Panicum maximum.

The shrubs were Alchornea cordifolia, Alchornea laxiflora, Allophyllus africanus,

Baphia pubescens, Harungana madagascariensis, Napoloenaea vogelii, Nauclea

SUMMARY


Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report Page xxiv

latifolia, Melastomastrum capitatum, Rauwolfia vomitoria, Tapinathus dodoneifolius,

Urena lobata, Combretum bracteatum, Clerodendrum splendens, Cnestis ferruginea,

Dracaena fragrans, and Chamacista mimosoides.

The secondary and riparian forests are inhabited by mainly young and immature trees

with heights between 15 – 40 feet tall. The trees include Albizia adianthifolia, albizia

zigia, Anthonotha macrophylla, Alstonia boonei, Anthocleista djaloensis, Anthocleista

vogellii, Bambusa bambusa, Elaeis guineensis, Ficus exasperata, Ficus sur, Musanga

cecropoides, Newbouldia laevis, Pentacilethra macrophylla, Spondias mombin, Bridelia

mitragyna, Combretum platyipterum, Trema guineiensis, Terminalia superbra, and

Zanthoxyllum gilletii.

Others plant species recorded include ferns, lianas, climbers, sedges and stranglers. These

include Adenia cissampeliodes, Centrosema pubescens, Cissus araloides, Dioclea

reflexa, Dioscoreaphylla cuminsii, Dioscorea spp., Icacina trichanta, Lycopodium

ceernum, Mariscus alternifolius, Mariscus flabelliformis, Nephrolepis undulata, Paulina

pinnata, Schrankia leptocarpa, Smilax anceps, Smilax kraussiana, Triclisia gilletii,

Triclisia patens, and Triclisia subcordata. The diameter of the boles at breast height

(DBH) ranges from 40-60 cm. The trees are sparsely arranged with vast area of mature

shrubs and herbs.

A total of 27 species of mammals (excluding bats) were recorded from the proposed

project area and its surrounding riparian forest. These species belong to 7 mammalian

Orders, 16 Families, and 23 Genera. They include insectivorous hedgehogs

(Erinceomorhpa), shrews (Soricomorpha), pangolins (Pholidota), rodents (Rodentia),

ungulates (Artiodactyla), carnivores (Carnivora), and primates (Primates). The rodents

were the most dominant group, constituting about 33% of the total number of mammals

recorded. Because of their large numbers they are neither threatened nor endangered but

rather considered a pest to field crops and stored products. Table 4-7 provides a checklist

of all the mammalian fauna found in the area of study. Plate 4-2 shows some of the

mammalian fauna recorded from the proposed project area.

The primates are all rare and threatened by over exploitation for food and they constitute

about 15% of the total fauna recorded. Mona monkeys (Cercopithecus mona ) and the

white-throated monkey were seen recently sighted in the riparian vegetation along the

River Ethiope. Pottos were rare because of their nocturnal habitat but could be heard by

trappers at night by their sound. Although, these animals were not considered threatened

by the IUCN Redlist (Least Concern), their population may be declining as a result of

exploitation by the local population for food. Moreover, Potto and the white-throated

SUMMARY


Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report Page xxv

monkey were listed Schedule 1 of Endangered species (Control of International Trade &

Traffic) Decree No. 11 of 1985.

The carnivores are represented by small to medium-sized species of civet, genet and

mongoose and they constitute about 19% of the total fauna recorded. They are all rare

and threatened by over-exploitation by humans for food. They were reported to be

present around the riparian forest along the River Ethiope and adjoining creeks within the

proposed project area. The proposed project may affect the remaining fragile population

of carnivores if not properly monitored during clearance and soil preparation. This shall

be achieved by the HCV monitoring and action programme developed by Presco Plc.

The Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates) are represented by antelopes (family Bovidae)

and bush pigs (family Suidae) constituting 15% of the total fauna recorded. They are not

uncommonly found in the area because of the abundant grassland in the region. There

were evidences of their presence by recent sightings of the presence of footprints along

the Ethiope River.

The pangolin (Order Pholidota) was represented by a single species of tree pangolin,

Manis tricuspis. This is a rare species although listed as least concern in the current

IUCN Redlist, it is threatened by trade for medicinal purposes. Moreover, it was also

listed in Schedule 1 of the Endangered Decree No. 11, 1985 prohibiting trade of the

species.

Estimates of population densities were based on interview with trapper and hunters from

the area. For a number of species (mammals, artiodactyls, pangolins, carnivores), the

population densities are below five individuals per square kilometre. However, rodents

are estimated at vary between five to twenty per square kilometre, particularly the

grasscutter and the black rat which are farmland and stored product pests.

A total of 51 species were recorded. Birds’ characteristic of primary forest or old growth

secondary forest such as hornbills, turacos, various bulbuls, flycatchers and malimbes

were all to be found in the secondary forest fragment and around the riparian vegetation

along the river Ethiope . Seed and insect eating birds dominated the grasslands and the

farmland. We sighted a large population of Guinea fowl (Guttera verreauxi) within the

proposed project area. They include bulbuls, barn swallow, swift, wagtails, waxbills, pin-

tailed whydahs, common thrush, kingfishers and sunbirds. Along the river Ethiope were

small numbers of egrets, ducks, lily trotters, sandpiper and snipe. Common raptors in the

proposed project area include hawks, hawk-sparrow, hawk eagles, kites, buzzards, and

palmnut vultures. A few individuals of the Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) and doves

SUMMARY


Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report Page xxvi

were observed in the area. Apart from the grey parrot, all the other species recorded are

not threatened (least concern) by the proposed project.

From the secondary data as obtained from Ologbo Plantation Expansion Project’s report

(2014). The dominant species of the project’s site include Musanga cecropioides,

Diospyros spp, Rauvolfia vomitoria, Zanthoxyllum zanthoxyloides, Mitragyna stipulosa,

Lophira alata, Cleistopholis patens, Strombosia spp Ficus spp, Albizia spp and

Alchornea cordifolia. These are mixture of both successional and steady state species

which are indications that the habitats could be highly improved upon if adequate

management action could be put in place for sustainable forest utilization. Furthermore,

three IUCN Red Data Listed species (Entrandrophragma sp, Lovoa trihilioides and

Millettia sp) are found within the concession.

There are seven affected communities within and around the Sakponba project area.

These include Ekigbe, Iwevbo, Obanakhoro, Orogho, Owuo, Ugbigun and Obagie

communities.

The SIA study involves the processes of analyzing, monitoring and managing the likely

and unintended, both positive and negative social consequences, of the oil palm and

rubber development and the social change processes that may result from it. Its primary

purpose is to bring about a more sustainable and equitable biophysical and human

environment. Except for Obagie community, other six (6) communities were assessed

using both quantitative and qualitative methods for data gathering. The quantitative

method facilitated the collection of data for describing population composition or

characteristics of the communities of the project area. The qualitative data helped the

assessors to see the worldview of the people under study. It was designed to understand

the broader psychological, social, political or economic perceptions and views in which

the study is focused.

From the social impact study it can be concluded that there is potential and significant

impacts of the project towards social sustainability for affected communities. The

immediate activities that have impact on social sustainability are the recruitment of

workers for plantation development such as land clearing and development and

capacity/skill development programmes for the youths. Regarding the company's plans,

the immediate impact of recruitments would be experienced by the thousands of people

and hundreds of households residing in the nearby communities. At the moment the

impact is not limited to employment at the nursery, but includes Presco Plc corporate

SUMMARY


Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report Page xxvii

social responsibility being discharged gradually through the engagement of more than

200 persons for short term employment.

The study showed that except Orogho community, there is little presence of government

social facilities and infrastructure. The result of baseline analysis in relation to the

assessed communities can be summarized as that the two communities (Orogho and

Owuo communities) are dominated by Bini speaking people with similar culture in the

way of greetings, marriage, tradition and other norms, mores and values and they tend to

be more bonded by the common interests they share as farmers; and the remaining four

communities are dominantly Urhobo speaking people.

Some of the anticipated/potential positive socio-economic benefits include creation of

employment, introduction of high yielding varieties of oil palm and sustainable

management of palm plantation practices, training and capacity building for employees

and smallholders, revenue to local communities through royalties payment to landlord

communities, tax revenue for the Edo state government and commercial opportunities for

small and medium scale enterprises including petty trading.

While some of the likely negative impacts include; loss of farmlands, forest products

collection areas, impacts on food security and prices of food products, influx non-native

plantation workers and potential impacts on family structures and social networks, water

pollution due to agro-chemicals, pollution from hazardous substances, exposure to health

risks (e.g. HIV, sexually transmitted diseases), adulteration/dislocation of indigenous

cultural values, impacts of operations on infrastructure (roads, water) and potential

conflicts with farmers whose farm lands have been taken over and without acceptable

resettlement plan in the action plan designed for security challenges.

In view of the positive impacts identified, as well as the community engagement,

stakeholders’ consultations within the project area, it is unlikely that the proposed oil

palm and rubber development project would adversely impact the social environment of

the Sakponba project communities.

ES 10.0 Significant Potential and Associated Environmental Impacts

The major/significant anticipated impacts arising from the development and operation of

the proposed Sakponba oil palm and rubber plantation development project were

examined and considered at four phases including: (i) Pre Construction; (ii) Construction;

(iii) Operation and Maintenance; (iv) Decommissioning and Abandonment.

SUMMARY


Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report Page xxviii

The significant impacts of the proposed project include: 1.)Plantation boundary

demarcation, Opening of roads and tracks, Site Forest Clearing and Maintenance of

Tracks and Roads; 2.)Vegetation and Spoil Disposal; 3.)Ploughing, Grading and

Levelling of Tracks and Roads; 4.)Increased Transportation and Use of Machinery during

Land Preparation; 5.) Weeding; 6.) Pesticides Application; 7.) Fertilizer Application.

ES 11.0 Mitigation Measures

Mitigation measures are defined for the identified significant associated and potential

impacts based on the following criteria:

Prevention – design and management measures for ensuring that significant

potential impacts and risks do not occur,

Reduction – operational and management measures for ensuring that the effects

or consequences of those significant associated and potential impacts that cannot

be prevented are reduced to a level as low as reasonably practical (ALARP)

Control - Operational and management measures for ensuring that residual

associated impacts are reduced to a level as low as reasonably practical (ALARP).

However, most of the significant environmental impacts that can likely arise from the

construction and operation of the proposed Sakponba oil palm and rubber development

project can be mitigated once appropriate precautions are in place as defined in Tables 6-

1 to 6-3.

ES 12.0 Proposed Environmental Management Plan (EMP) in Place

All mitigation measures will be adhered to by the Environment, Health and Safety (HSE)

department of the company; (i) Emissions testing and reporting must be done in accordance

with the regulatory requirements and record submitted to FMEnv; (ii) Fire prevention

precautions must be in place as required by the State Fire Service; (iii) All fire fighting

equipment will be inspected and maintained regularly; (iv) The occupational health, safety

and environmental policies shall be implemented; vii) Capacity building programme for

plantation staff including awareness, in-plant training, seminars, workshops and short

courses shall be undertaken regularly to enhance the implementation of the EMP.

For the oil palm and rubber plantation development project, the environmental

monitoring programme would cover a number of parameters including meteorology,

ambient air quality, surface water quality, groundwater quality and noise levels. All these

would be monitored by the Federal Ministry of Environment.

SUMMARY


Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report Page xxix

The schedule of EMP detailing impact, mitigation measures, actions to be taken and the

persons responsible for mitigation actions has also been drawn. It will equally be

monitored for compliance.

ES 13.0 Decommissioning

The approaches to the decommissioning of the plantation project would involve the

combination of assets recovery, dismantling, demolition, decontamination and

remediation

ES 14.0 Conclusion

The EIA process demonstrates that the Sakponba oil palm and rubber plantation

development project will fully comply with legislative requirements in Nigeria and other

relevant international regulations applicable to the planned activities and operations. The

proposed project will result in substantial economic benefits for Nigeria through

Employment opportunities generation in particular during the construction and operation

phases.

This EIA also indicates that discharges including gaseous emissions and noise are

expected from the operation of the plantation development project. However, any such

discharges, which can be considered as potential sources of adverse environmental

effects, can be fully managed through preventive actions and mitigating measures. This

means that no significant negative impact on the natural, health and social environmental

sensitivities of the project area is expected to result from discharges, let alone the

occurrence of a residual impact.

There would appear to be no legal, administrative, natural and socio-economic limitations

to prevent the Sakponba oil palm and rubber plantation development project from going

ahead as proposed by Presco Plc. The project shall be implemented in accordance with

the proposed environmental management plan (EMP).

An EMP involving environmental management and supervision organizations, and

environmental monitoring has been established to ensure the environmental performance

of the Project. To ensure successful implementation of these measures, the EMP covers

major relevant aspects such as institutional arrangement for environmental management

and supervision and environmental monitoring. With implementation of the mitigation

measures defined in the EIA and EMP, all the likely adverse environmental impacts

associated with the project will be prevented, eliminated, or minimized to an

environmentally acceptable level.

SUMMARY


Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report Page xxx

The Project is environmentally sound, and will promote balanced and environmentally

sustainable operation of Presco Plc. It is therefore recommended that Presco Plc should

implement the proposed oil palm and rubber plantation development project at Sakponba

by fulfilling its obligations as outlined in the respective social and environmental

management plans in this report.

SUMMARY

Presco Plc: Proposed Sakponba Oil Palm and Rubber Plantation Development Project October2017

Environmental Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report Page 243

CHAPTER EIGHT

8.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The EIA process demonstrates that the proposed Sakponba oil palm and rubber

plantation development project will fully comply with legislative requirements in

Nigeria and other relevant international regulations applicable to the planned

activities and operations.

The oil palm and rubber plantation development project will result in substantial

economic benefits for Nigeria through Employment opportunities generation in

particular during the construction and operation phases.

This EIA also indicates that discharges including gaseous emissions and noise are

expected from the operation of the oil palm and rubber plantation development

project. However, any such discharges, which can be considered as potential

sources of adverse environmental effects, can be fully managed through preventive

actions and mitigating measures. This means that no significant negative impact on

the natural, health and social environmental sensitivities of the project area is

expected to result from discharges, let alone the occurrence of a residual impact.

The existing environmental management programme of Presco Plc has put in place

good waste management system, which will fully integrate the oil palm and rubber

plantation development waste management requirement.

There would appear to be no legal, administrative, natural and socio-economic

limitations to prevent the project from going ahead as proposed by Presco Plc. The

project shall be implemented in accordance with the proposed environmental

management plan presented in Chapter Seven.

The stakeholders shall be carried along throughout the development,

implementation and operation of the project.

The proposed Sakponba oil palm and rubber plantation development project is

therefore recommended to the Federal Ministry of Environment for approval.

SUMMARY

Documents

PRESCO PLC EIA NIGERIA...Presco Plc: Proposed Sakponba Oil Palm and Rubber Plantation Development Project October 2017 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Final Report