CEMMATS Ends ESIA For Odhav Multi-Industries Steel Manufacturing & Processing Plant
Construction, Engineering, Manufacturing, Management and Technical Services Group Limited (CEMMATS) has concluded a one-day public consultation and disclosure workshop on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for Odhav Multi-Industries (SL) Ltd.’s Steel Manufacturing and Processing Plant.
CEMMATS submitted a report yesterday Thursday 18th January 2024 at the D’BAM Multipurpose Hall at 85 Wellington Street, Freetown to the Environment Protection Agency – Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) and that report was presented to interested and affected persons during the public disclosure sessions for discussion.
The Odhav multi-industries is the first fully automated steel manufacturing company in West Africa and was founded in Massaya (Dubreka), Republic of Guinea. The company wishes to expand its business to other countries with the establishment of Odhav multi-industries (SL) Limited (hereinafter referred to as Odhav) in Sierra Leone.
During their first presentation about the project description and technical representation Nyaveh Keili of CEMMATS disclosed that Odhav signed a $240 million investment agreement with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Trade and Industry in 2021 with plans of developing a Steel Manufacturing and Processing plant on 160 acres of land in Songo, Koya Chiefdom, Port Loko. The company plans on buying and recycling scrap steel from local vendors to manufacture finished products like iron rod, nails, roof sheet, pipes, binding wires among others.
She went further to state that the project warrants a comprehensive ESLA which will depict the associated environmental, social and health impacts of the project as stipulated in the EPA Act, 2008, 2010 and 2022.
In compliance with the laws of Sierra Leone, the project needs to be carried out in a manner that minimizes the potential negative social and environmental impacts and maximizes the benefits. This can be achieved through the ESIA Process which the consultant, CEMMATS Group Ltd. (CEMMATS), an experienced Environmental Assessment consultancy with vast experience in conducting similar studies in various sectors locally and internationally, has undertaken.
The chairman of the workshop, Ing Sahr Tamba Nyalloma spoke about the vast natural resources Sierra Leone has and how it has been impacted communities and the country as a whole.
He appealed for the physically challenged people to be considered when giving appointment.
EPA Director on Environmental Health and Safety, Mo-Bashir Idriss explained the role of EPA -SL and the need for the ESIA.
He emphasized that the role of the public is for them to get their reaction and what they are going to do.
He emphasized on how to maximize damages and minimize the benefits.
He assured the public that every three months they will be monitoring the company to ensure that they do what is said in the ESIA report.
He informed his audience that the report is a public document and anybody can access it at the EPA-SL website.
Christiana Fortune of CEMMATS presented the Environmental Baseline and Impacts Assessment while Safiatu Luseni presented the Socio-economic Baseline, Impact Assessment.
Stakeholders asked several questions as a way of getting clarification about the project and the impact both negative and positive it will make in the country.
