ENVIRON appointed on Georgia's largest container freight port development

In the initial phase the new port will comprise a container terminal for the handling and storage of up to 450,000 TEU/year with a 350m quay wall and wet infrastructure, including breakwaters, approach channel, turning circle and quay face, needed for fully loaded 3500 TEU vessels. The second phase will include an extension of the quay wall and container terminal, a rail ferry terminal and provide facilities for the handling of bulk items such as iron-ore or bauxite.  The port development will be supported by new loading/unloading cranes, customs and administrative buildings, workshops areas, storage areas and new or upgraded road and rail infrastructure. Commissioned by the Poti Sea Port Corporation and working with a local partner Gamma, ENVIRON has started work on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA).  The ESIA is being prepared to meet both Georgian and international environmental standards, including those of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) which is considering funding for the project.  The ESIA process therefore requires the disclosure of a package of materials including a Stakeholder Engagement Plan, Scoping Report, ESIA report, Non-Technical Summary and an Environmental and Social Action Plan. Special attention will be given to climate change impacts because the project area has been identified to be at high risk from the effects of climate change. Neil Daetwyler, Principal at ENVIRON and head of its International Finance practice said: “The Port of Poti’s location represents a crossroads on the Caucasian corridor and a strategic gateway not only for Georgia, but for other countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. The existing port at Poti is unable to handle the increasing volume of containers and the new development will significantly increase the port’s capacity providing a long-term economic stimulus for the region.  However to achieve this we need to ensure that the environmental and social impacts of the new development are properly taken into account and any necessary mitigation measures are put in place as part of the wider development process.” Subject to the necessary permitting, construction is expected to start in 2011with the first phase of the container terminal opening in 2014.