The Yemen LNG plant construction started in September 2005 in Balhaf in the Gulf of Aden and lasted over 4 years. The 1 km² plant, within a 10 km² fenced site, lies along 7 km of coastline. This paper describes the approach of Yemen LNG along with its main shareholder Total E&P, concerning the protection of the coral biodiversity during marine construction activities in a sensitive environment. This approach was developed according to three stages: establishing biodiversity, monitoring coral communities and protecting the reef ecosystem with mitigation and compensation means. Knowledge of the coral biodiversity was an indispensable preliminary stage to evaluate the sensitivity of the site. The Environmental Baseline Studies have highlighted the richness of the marine ecosystem. The plant is bordered by a dense, diversified coral community forming a narrow reef extending from the shore to a depth of 15 metres. Almost 85 coral species occur in the reefs, colonizing about 85% of the substrate. The largest coral colonies are approximately 400 years old. Therefore, these corals are a valuable and delicate resource. Monitoring composition and diversity of corals communities is considered an integral part of biodiversity conservation. The monitoring plan allowed to measure several parametres: some of which were related to the natural environment, others measured the effects of the works on water quality and finally, most observations included a direct measurement of coral community health. Protecting the reef ecosystem by implementing mitigation and compensation measures is aimed at keeping reef biodiversity at its highest level by preventing and/or reducing the negative impacts on the ecosystem. Initially, part of the marine construction work encroached on existing coral outcrops. A planned, but not yet implemented, Marine Protected Area nearby also increased the pressure on the construction teams who had to fulfill the Social and Environmental Impact Assessment Study requirements as well as World Bank and IFC standards. It is recognized that some limited physical damage to corals occurred despite the implementation of these mitigation measures. Lessons learned from the monitoring will be used to provide feedback to the industry in general. This offers a positive way forward when constructing installations in sensitive coastal marine environments.
This paper describes Yemen LNG approach to the preservation of cultural heritage during constructing of its project, which comprises a LNG plant and a 320km pipeline, both of which are located in one of the richest archaeological areas in a Country with a rare and deep cultural history, thus presenting a great challenge to control the impact of the project activities on cultural heritage. The Yemen LNG project and its locus are described in the paper noting that the Yemen LNG project is the largest industrial investment project ever implemented in Yemen. This paper also gives a short background describing the archaeological landscape of Yemen in general and the archaeological landscape of the project area. The paper then discusses the innovative cultural heritage preservation strategy and management plans which Yemen LNG has adopted to mitigate impacts to cultural heritage. The strategy is based on three principles: knowing archaeology, preserving it and monitoring cultural heritage during construction. Knowledge of cultural heritage is the starting point and the archaeological baseline surveys and studies highlight the sites in the plant and along the pipeline route. These surveys were followed by a comprehensive archaeological documentation covering all the archaeological sites in the project areas. Second is elimination or mitigation of potential impact on cultural heritage, a good example of this effort is that the pipeline was rerouted at several points to avoid damage to archaeological sites, equally, at the plant site at Balhaf, the plant layout was re-designed to preserve key sites (including a historic Cemetery) located inside the plant. To ensure that impacts are mitigated to ALARP, the third level of action is to ensure avoidance of direct or indirect damage to the archaeological sites, by conducting daily monitoring, additionally a team of archaeologists worked ahead of construction to monitor sensitive sites and to ensure that appropriate protection measures were taken before construction began. The paper shares lessons learned from 4 years of managing sensitive archaeological sites and it proposes learning points for future large energy projects which face challenges in sensitive cultural heritage environments. This subject is vitally important in a context where the expectations of stakeholders are that energy Companies should be sensitive to cultural heritage and should respect important archaeological sites.
This paper describes the implementation of an innovative biodiversity management strategy in a difficult context. The paper has transverse application to similar large energy projects in third word countries where construction might impact sensitive ecosystems. The Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) was developed in line with international standards and also to empathise with the objectives of the draft Yemeni biodiversity strategy and action plan. In addition, the company carried out biodiversity baseline survey, environmental and social impact assessment studies which translated into two World Bank compliant environmental and social management plans (ESMP) for the construction and operation phase of the project. The BAP describes the biodiversity status of Balhaf and the surrounding coastal area, setting targets for ecological conservation and outlining the mechanisms for achieving these targets, in addition to developing dynamic indicators, which will help to identify any beneficial effects. The BAP also contributes to the conservation of Yemeni biodiversity beyond the affected area. Furthermore, it deals with biodiversity and related socioeconomic aspects which will be implemented during construction, and longer term protection of biodiversity during the operation phase, in addition to promoting scientific development research and capacity building. Following pre-construction surveys, the little known coastline was discovered to be rich in very sensitive and diverse corals which play an important habitat role, contributing to the local artisanal fisheries, and a prime resource in this impoverished region. Nevertheless, Yemen lacks any specific legislation relating to biodiversity preservation, which would mandate significant new projects to develop a specific biodiversity management strategy. However, due to the ecological sensitivity of the site, Yemen LNG decided to voluntarily put in place a biodiversity action plan which is directed towards the conservation and sustainable development of biodiversity and the economic livelihood of local fisheries
This paper describes Yemen LNG approach to the preservation of cultural heritage during constructing of its project, which comprises a LNG plant and a 320km pipeline, both of which are located in one of the richest archaeological areas in a Country with a rare and deep cultural history, thus presenting a great challenge to control the impact of the project activities on cultural heritage. The Yemen LNG project and its locus are described in the paper noting that the Yemen LNG project is the largest industrial investment project ever implemented in Yemen. This paper also gives a short background describing the archaeological landscape of Yemen in general and the archaeological landscape of the project area. The paper then discusses the innovative cultural heritage preservation strategy and management plans which Yemen LNG has adopted to mitigate impacts to cultural heritage. The strategy is based on three principles: knowing archaeology, preserving it and monitoring cultural heritage during construction. Knowledge of cultural heritage is the starting point and the archaeological baseline surveys and studies highlight the sites in the plant and along the pipeline route. These surveys were followed by a comprehensive archaeological documentation covering all the archaeological sites in the project areas. Second is elimination or mitigation of potential impact on cultural heritage, a good example of this effort is that the pipeline was rerouted at several points to avoid damage to archaeological sites, equally, at the plant site at Balhaf, the plant layout was re-designed to preserve key sites (including a historic Cemetery) located inside the plant. To ensure that impacts are mitigated to ALARP, the third level of action is to ensure avoidance of direct or indirect damage to the archaeological sites, by conducting daily monitoring, additionally a team of archaeologists worked ahead of construction to monitor sensitive sites and to ensure that appropriate protection measures were taken before construction began. The paper shares lessons learned from 4 years of managing sensitive archaeological sites and it proposes learning points for future large energy projects which face challenges in sensitive cultural heritage environments. This subject is vitally important in a context where the expectations of stakeholders are that energy Companies should be sensitive to cultural heritage and should respect important archaeological sites.
This paper describes the implementation of an innovative biodiversity management strategy in a difficult context. The paper has transverse application to similar large energy projects in third word countries where construction might impact sensitive ecosystems. The Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) was developed in line with international standards and also to empathise with the objectives of the draft Yemeni biodiversity strategy and action plan. In addition, the company carried out biodiversity baseline survey, environmental and social impact assessment studies which translated into two World Bank compliant environmental and social management plans (ESMP) for the construction and operation phase of the project. The BAP describes the biodiversity status of Balhaf and the surrounding coastal area, setting targets for ecological conservation and outlining the mechanisms for achieving these targets, in addition to developing dynamic indicators, which will help to identify any beneficial effects. The BAP also contributes to the conservation of Yemeni biodiversity beyond the affected area. Furthermore, it deals with biodiversity and related socioeconomic aspects which will be implemented during construction, and longer term protection of biodiversity during the operation phase, in addition to promoting scientific development research and capacity building. Following pre-construction surveys, the little known coastline was discovered to be rich in very sensitive and diverse corals which play an important habitat role, contributing to the local artisanal fisheries, and a prime resource in this impoverished region. Nevertheless, Yemen lacks any specific legislation relating to biodiversity preservation, which would mandate significant new projects to develop a specific biodiversity management strategy. However, due to the ecological sensitivity of the site, Yemen LNG decided to voluntarily put in place a biodiversity action plan which is directed towards the conservation and sustainable development of biodiversity and the economic livelihood of local fisheries
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