Tashkent, December 12, 2022 — The Gas Chemical Complex based on MTO Technology (GCC MTO) announces the completion of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
The question of a company’s environmental and social impact is one of the key issues in modern industrial projects. The management of GCC MTO initially set itself the task of reducing risks and minimizing negative external factors, as well as introducing the most modern technologies and equipment at the early stages of design.
A reputable consultant with environmental expertise, Mott MacDonald, was engaged to assess the environmental and social impacts of the project and conducted the analysis in accordance with recognised international standards.
The study found that the socio-environmental practices being implemented at GCC MTO are in line with the standards of international development finance institutions, including the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the identified environmental and social impacts are minor and under manageable control.
Masrur Shakirov, General Director of GCC MTO:
“We thank the experts of Mott MacDonald and Ekostandart Ekspert LLC for their comprehensive assessment, which will help us in the implementation of the GCC MTO project. From the very beginning of our large and unique industrial project in the region, we have adhered to international standards of environmental and social sustainability.
The implementation of the GCC MTO project will open up great opportunities for the Bukhara region. Sustainable industrial development will unlock the region’s potential and provide a guaranteed basis for economic growth and other positive changes”.
Mott MacDonald prepared the report with the support of a local consultant, Ekostandart Ekspert Ltd. Together, they assessed the project’s potential environmental and social impacts, including air quality, water resources, soil, biodiversity, noise and vibration pollution.
The ESIA document also concluded about positive social effects through job creation and economic development of the region. The implementation of the GCC MTO project is expected to have a multiplier economic effect on Bukhara region through increased employment and training of about 2,000 employees. Local specialists will also be engaged to conduct training and educational programmes.
In order to engage the public and make the project accessible to residents of the surrounding areas, public hearings were held jointly with the Hokimiyats of Karakul, Jondor and Alat districts. At these meetings, GCC MTO representatives shared information about the project with the local communities, including its environmental and social impacts. Local residents were also informed about the progress of the project and its regional economic significance.
Positive feedback was received from the hearing. Questions were asked about employment opportunities for local people, expected wages and increased revenues for the region, the equipment used at the facility and the prospects for improving the surrounding infrastructure, including landscaping and the creation of new parks in the vicinity of the project.
Throughout the life of the project, as the GCC MTO grows and new facilities are added to it, additional environmental and social impact assessments will be carried out, taking into account any significant changes.