Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment Power Plant – Blat, Jbeil

Date: March 2016

Prepared for: Byblos Advanced Energy S.A.L Jbeil, Jbeil Electricity Building Mount Lebanon, Lebanon P.O. Box: 102 Telephone: +961-09-546676/0173 Fax: 09-546671

Representative: Mr. Elie Bassil

Prepared by: Leyla Grizi Environmental Specialist [email protected] Dr. Mazen Haydar Environmental Studies Manager mazen.haydar @khatibalami.com

Contributors: Racha Abou Chakra Senior Environmental Specialist [email protected] Laurence Charbel Hydrogeologist [email protected]

Reviewed By: Dr. Mazen Haydar Environmental Studies Manager mazen.haydar @khatibalami.com

Khatib & Alami CEC Beirut, Lebanon Tel: (961)-1-843843 / 844944 Fax: (961)-1-844400 P.O.Box: 14-6203 Beirut 1105 2100 Lebanon E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.khatibalami.com

Environmental Impact Assessment

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ...... 15 1.1 Objectives of the EIA Study ...... 17 1.2 Scope of Work ...... 18 2 POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ...... 19 2.1 Concerned Authorities/Institutions ...... 20 2.2 Legislative Framework in Lebanon...... 20 2.3 Environmental Standards ...... 21 2.3.1 Technical Considerations for Oil Storage Tanks (Decree 5509/1994) ...... 21 2.3.2 Noise (Decision 52/1/1996) ...... 21 2.3.3 Air Quality (Decisions 52/1/1996 and 8/1/2001) ...... 22 2.3.4 Potable Water Quality (Decree 1039/1999) ...... 23 2.3.5 Reclaimed Water Used for Irrigation (Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/1985) ... 25 2.3.6 Sludge Quality (United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)/1991) ...... 25 2.4 International Conventions ...... 26 2.5 International Guidelines ...... 26 2.5.1 European Union Directives ...... 26 2.5.2 The World Bank ...... 26 2.6 Project Classification ...... 27 3 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT ...... 28 3.1 Purpose and Objectives of the Project ...... 28 3.1 Project Location ...... 30 3.2 Plot Description ...... 30 3.3 Project Site Surroundings ...... 33 3.4 Project Components ...... 34 3.5 Power Engines ...... 36 3.6 Oil (HFO, LFO and Lubricating Oil) ...... 39 3.7 Charge Air System ...... 42 3.8 Exhaust System ...... 42 3.9 Exhaust Gas Silencer ...... 42 3.10 Insulation Exhaust Gas Ducting (Set) ...... 42 3.11 Exhaust Gas Stack Pipe...... 43 3.12 Production Process ...... 45 3.12.1 General Engine Description ...... 45 3.12.2 Diesel Process ...... 45 3.12.3 Engine Main Data ...... 45 3.12.4 Fuel Oil System ...... 45 3.12.5 Lubricating Oil System ...... 46 3.12.6 Starting Air System ...... 46 3.12.7 Cooling Water System ...... 46 3.12.8 Charge Air System ...... 46 3.12.9 Exhaust Gas System ...... 46 1

Environmental Impact Assessment

3.12.10 Heavy Fuel Oil System ...... 46 3.13 Material Balance Diagram ...... 47 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT SURROUNDING THE PROJECT ...... 43 4.1 Climate ...... 43 4.2 Air Quality ...... 46 4.3 Noise Quality ...... 47 4.4 Geology ...... 49 4.5 Seismology ...... 50 4.6 Topography ...... 51 4.7 Water Resources ...... 53 4.8 Biodiversity ...... 54 4.9 Socio-Economic ...... 58 4.10 Visual Impact ...... 58 4.11 Waste Management ...... 58 4.12 Access and Control ...... 59 5 Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures ...... 62 5.1 Geology ...... 63 5.1.1 Impacts during Construction Phase ...... 63 5.1.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase ...... 63 5.1.3 Impacts during Operation Phase ...... 63 5.1.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase ...... 63 5.2 Water Resources ...... 63 5.2.1 Impacts during Construction Phase ...... 63 5.2.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase ...... 64 5.2.3 Impacts during Operation Phase ...... 64 5.2.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase ...... 65 5.3 Wastewater ...... 65 5.3.1 Impacts during Construction Phase ...... 65 5.3.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase ...... 65 5.3.3 Impacts during Operation Phase ...... 65 5.3.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase ...... 65 5.4 Biodiversity ...... 67 5.4.1 Impacts during Construction Phase ...... 67 5.4.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase ...... 68 5.4.3 Impacts during Operation Phase ...... 68 5.4.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase ...... 68 5.5 Soil ...... 68 5.5.1 Impacts during Construction Phase ...... 68 5.5.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase ...... 68 5.5.3 Impacts during Operation Phase ...... 68 5.5.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase ...... 68 5.6 Air Quality ...... 69

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Environmental Impact Assessment

5.6.1 Impacts during Construction Phase ...... 69 5.6.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase ...... 69 5.6.3 Impacts during Operation Phase ...... 69 5.6.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase ...... 70 5.7 Noise ...... 71 5.7.1 Impacts during Construction Phase ...... 71 5.7.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase ...... 72 5.7.3 Impacts during Operation Phase ...... 72 5.7.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase ...... 73 5.8 Visual Quality ...... 73 5.8.1 Impacts during Construction Phase ...... 73 5.8.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase ...... 73 5.8.3 Impacts during Operation Phase ...... 73 5.8.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase ...... 74 5.9 Solid Waste Management ...... 74 5.9.1 Impacts during Construction Phase ...... 74 5.9.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase ...... 75 5.9.3 Impacts during Operation Phase ...... 75 5.9.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase ...... 75 5.10 Energy and Natural Resources ...... 75 5.10.1 Impacts during Construction Phase ...... 75 5.10.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase ...... 76 5.10.3 Impacts during Operation Phase ...... 76 5.10.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase ...... 76 5.11 Traffic and Access...... 76 5.11.1 Impacts during Construction Phase ...... 76 5.11.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase ...... 76 5.11.3 Impacts during Operation Phase ...... 76 5.11.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase ...... 77 5.12 Socio-Economic ...... 77 5.12.1 Impacts during Construction Phase ...... 77 5.12.2 Impacts during Operation Phase ...... 77 5.13 Health and Safety ...... 78 5.13.1 Impacts and Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase ...... 78 5.13.2 Impacts and Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase ...... 79 6 Maintenance ...... 103 7 Public Participation ...... 104 8 Analysis of Alternatives ...... 105 8.1 Location Alternative ...... 105 8.2 Technology Alternatives ...... 105 8.2.1 Combined-Cycle Plants ...... 105 8.2.2 Renewable Energy Technology: Photovoltaic (PV) Cells ...... 106

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Environmental Impact Assessment

8.3 Cooling Process Alternative ...... 106 8.4 Engine Type Alternatives ...... 107 8.4.1 Two-Stroke Engine ...... 107 8.4.2 Six-Stroke Engine ...... 107 8.5 Fuel Alternatives ...... 108 8.5.1 Natural Gas...... 108 8.5.2 Orimulsion ...... 108 8.5.3 Light Fuel Oil...... 108 8.5.4 Heavy Fuel Oil 1 (HFO1) ...... 109 8.5.5 Heavy Fuel Oil ...... 109 8.5.6 Diesel ...... 109 8.5.7 Biofuel ...... 110 8.5.8 Biodiesel ...... 110 8.5.9 Liquefied Petroleum Gas ...... 111 8.6 THE “DO NOTHING” Alternative ...... 111 8.7 Comparison of Alternatives ...... 112 9 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ...... 115 10 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PLAN ...... 122 11 INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING AND CAPACITY BUILDING ...... 125 12 EMERGENCY PLAN ...... 126 13 CONCLUSION ...... 127 14 REFERENCES ...... 128 15 APPENDICES ...... 74

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Environmental Impact Assessment

LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Project Site Location...... 17 Figure 2: Description of EIA Procedures in Lebanon...... 19 Figure 3: Project Parcel Boundaries and Coordinates...... 30 Figure 4: Decree 5243/2001...... 31 Figure 5: Appendix from Decree 1120/1936...... 32 Figure 6: Industrial Facilities around Project Site...... 33 Figure 7: 500 m Radius...... 34 Figure 8: Security Fence...... 35 Figure 9: Backside...... 36 Figure 10: Power Plant Schematic Process...... 38 Figure 11: Lubricating Oil System...... 39 Figure 12: Oil Wetted Filter and Weather Louver...... 42 Figure 13: 3-D Layout of the Power Plant...... 43 Figure 14: 3-D Section...... 44 Figure 15: 2-D Layout of Power Plant...... 44 Figure 16: Combustion Process...... 45 Figure 17: Material Balance Diagram during Construction and Operation Phases...... 47 Figure 18: Daily Rainfall in Jbeil during May 2001 to May 2002...... 43 Figure 19: Average Daily Temperature in Jbeil during May 2001 to May 2002...... 44 Figure 20: Average Daily Wind Speed Recordings in Jbeil during May 2001 to May 2002...... 44 Figure 21: Predominant Wind Direction with Respect to Nearest Residential Area...... 45 Figure 22: Wind Direction (3-D)...... 45 Figure 23: Industries Adjacent to the Project Site...... 46 Figure 24: Quarry Site West of the Project Site...... 46 Figure 25: Cells...... 47 Figure 26: Noise Sampling Locations...... 48 Figure 27: Geological Map of Dubertret Showing the Power Plant Location...... 50 Figure 28: Fractured Limestone in the Vicinity of Project Area...... 50 Figure 29: Rock fall...... 50 Figure 30: N - S Section of the Topography in the Area of the Proposed Power Plant...... 51 Figure 31: E - W Section of the Topography in the Area of the Proposed Power Plant...... 52 Figure 32: Nahr El Fidar with Respect to the Power Plant...... 53 Figure 33: Hydrogeological Map for the Proposed Power Plant...... 54 Figure 34: Flora in the Project Area...... 55 55 ...... (صنوبر بري) Figure 35: Pinus Brutia 56 ...... (بلوط لوك) Figure 36: Quercus Brantii Look 56 ...... (البالن الشوكي) Figure 37: Sarcopoterium Spinosum 56 ...... (ل َزاب) Figure 38: Juniperus Excelsa 57 ...... )مريمية( Figure 39: Salvia Oficinalis 57 ...... )طرخشقون حلب( Figure 40: Taraxacum Aleppicum 57 ...... )بيتا الشائع ماريتيما( Figure 41: Beta Vulgaris Maritima 5

Environmental Impact Assessment

Figure 42: Waste Littering in Project Site...... 59 Figure 43: Waste Bins Surrounding the Project Site...... 59 Figure 44: Roads Reaching the Power Plant...... 60 Figure 45: Proposed Power Plant...... 74 Figure 46: 3-D Layout of Proposed Power Plant...... 74

LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Client and EIA Team...... 15 Table 2: National Laws, Decrees and Decisions...... 20 Table 3: Permissible Noise Levels in Selected Areas (Decision 52/1)...... 22 Table 4: Permissible Levels for Ambient Air Quality in Lebanon (Decision 52/1/1996)...... 22 Table 5: Power Generators that Operate on Heavy Fuel Oil (Capacity > 0.5 MW) (Decision 8/1/2001). .. 22 Table 6: World Bank Guidelines for Power Plants with Capacity > 50 MW...... 23 Table 7: Organoleptic Properties for Potable Water...... 23 Table 8: Physical and Chemical Properties for Potable Water...... 23 Table 9: Microbial Parameters for Potable Water...... 24 Table 10: Quality of Reclaimed Water Used for Irrigation (FAO, 1985)...... 25 Table 11: Standards for Sludge Quality (U.S. EPA, 1991)...... 25 Table 12: International Conventions, Treaties and Protocols...... 26 Table 13: Regulations Corresponding to Each Potential Impact...... 27 Table 14: Current Service Fees vs. Proposed Fees...... 28 Table 15: Characteristics of Generator...... 36 Table 16: Flows per Engine...... 36 Table 17: Exhaust Gas...... 37 Table 18: Mass Flow per Engine...... 37 Table 19: Oil Tanks Capacity...... 39 Table 20: Lubricating Tanks Capacity...... 39 Table 21: Maximum Limits for Heavy Fuel Oil...... 40 Table 22: Characteristics of Heavy Fuel Oil Grade B...... 41 Table 23: Properties of the Fresh Lubricating Oil...... 41 Table 24: Limits for Engine Cooling (Primary Circuit), Turbine Washing, & Separator Operating Water. . 42 Table 25: Maximum Allowed Concentration of Impurities at Charge Air Inlet...... 42 Table 26: Characteristics of Exhaust Gas Pipe Stack...... 43 Table 27: Raw Materials Used at 60% and 100% Load Operation...... 44 Table 28: Engine Data...... 45 Table 29: Annual Average Air Pollutants Concentrations...... 47 Table 30: Noise Sampling Results...... 49 Table 31: Levels of Significance of Impacts...... 62 Table 32: Impact Classification...... 62 Table 33: Typical noise Levels at Construction Sites...... 72 Table 34: Noise Limits (Decision 52/1/96)...... 73

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Environmental Impact Assessment

Table 35: Personal Protective Equipment...... 79 Table 36: Survey Results...... 104 Table 37: Comparison of Technology Alternatives...... 113 Table 38: Comparison of Fuel Alternatives...... 113 Table 39: Comparison of Engine Alternatives...... 113 Table 40: Environmental Management Plan...... 116 Table 41: Environmental Monitoring Plan...... 123

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Environmental Impact Assessment

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS a.s.l. Above Sea Level BWSC Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor CEMP Construction Environmental Management Plan CEMS Continuous Emission Monitoring System CO Carbon Monoxide

CO2 Carbon Dioxide dBA A-weighted decibels E East EDL Electricité du Liban EDJ Electricité de Jbeil EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMP Environmental Management Plan EU European Union FAO Food and Agriculture Organization HC Hydrocarbon HFO Heavy Fuel Oil

H2O Water K & A Khatib and Alami KVA KiloVolt Ampere L.L. Lebanese Lira LFO Light Fuel Oil LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas MoA Ministry of Agriculture MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet MoE Ministry of Environment MW Megawatt N North

NO2 Nitrogen Dioxide NOx Nitrogen Oxide

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Environmental Impact Assessment

O2 Oxygen

O3 Ozone PM Particulate Matter PPE Personal Protective Equipment S South

SO2 Sulfur Dioxide SOx Sulfur Oxide U.S. EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds W West WWTP Wastewater Treatment Plant

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Environmental Impact Assessment

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - Project Description The proposed project comprises the construction and operation of a new power plant in the industrial area of Blat - Jbeil Caza, Lebanon. It will be constructed on plot No. 4091 of area 66,000 m2 owned by Deir Mar Maroun. The surface coverage of the proposed power plant will be 29,000 m2 and the built-up area will be 3,000 m2. The total excavated area will be 33,000 m2. The power plant will have an approximate capacity of 66 MW and will operate at 60% load on low-sulfur (maximum sulfur 1%) Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) Grade B and natural gas when available. The proposed power plant will be designed and supplied by Wärtsilä in accordance with European and international standards, and will be built, operated and maintained by Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor (BWSC). The proposed power plant is designed for base load (cop) operation and is intended for power generation. Based on Wärtsilä design, the noise level at the project site will be 70 dBA at 100 m from the edge of the power house or cooling equipment. The proposed power plant will be composed of 7 medium speed diesel generation sets of type Wärtsilä 20V32 with ABB AMG alternators, each rated 9.4 MWe. 60% of the generation sets will be operating, leaving the rest (40%) as backup in case of any failure of generators and/or satisfy increase in power demand. To enhance plant efficiency in the future, each unit will be fitted with Exhaust Gas Waste Heat Recovery boiler, generating HP steam for one steam turbine generator rated at 8% of total output i.e. 5 MWe. The proposed project will cost about $35 million. The power plant will have a lifetime of 25 years and can be renewed for another 25 years with new generators. It will be connected directly to the present distribution network. The power plant will produce an output of 15 KV. - Objective of the Report Byblos Advanced Energy (the Client) has appointed Khatib and Alami (K&A) to conduct an EIA study for this project. The herein EIA report for the proposed power plant is prepared in line with the requirements of the Ministry of Environment’s )MoE( Decree No. 8633/2012. It has been developed to describe and evaluate the potential impacts that could be expected from the construction and operation of the project, and to provide practical recommendations that can be implemented during the design phase in order to reduce or even prevent, where possible, any adverse effects on the surrounding environment. - Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures The following section summarizes the environmental impacts and respective mitigation measures for identified environmental parameters. Water Resources During construction, low quantities of water (less than 10 m3/day) are needed to control dust emissions from construction activities, which will be supplied by water tankers and a nearby existing well. Potential spillage of fuels/lubricants from construction machinery and vehicles or increase of surface

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Environmental Impact Assessment water runoff during rainstorms due to soil disturbance and excavation works will have adverse impacts on groundwater resources. However, these impacts are unlikely to occur with a properly implemented Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) and with appropriate preventive measures. During the operation phase, water will be also supplied by water tankers and the nearby existing well. An estimate of 9 m3/day of water will be used in power plant processes and 9 m3/day of water for daily domestic water consumption. Oil leaks or oil spills from fuel loading or oil storage tanks may contaminate groundwater resources. However, the power plant lies on the C4d formation considered as an aquiclude that does not allow for water percolation. However, the fractures in limestone could make it prone to minor leaching especially that this area undergoes heavy rain in the winter period accentuating the leaching effect. Wastewater During the construction phase, minimal amounts of wastewater will be generated from construction activities and by workers. During the operation phase, wastewater will result from oil spills from fuel supply tankers during oil delivery, from chemical cleaning of boilers and equipment, from oily water produced from fuel oil and lubricating oil separators and from domestic wastewater. The wastewater generated by workers (2.8 m3/day) shall be collected in a closed septic tank of capacity 4 m3 for pretreatment, emptied once a week or as needed before reaching its capacity, pumped out and then sent to the municipality to dispose it in the municipal sewerage network. Wastewater generated from power plant processes (0.75- 1.1 m3/day), cleaning activities (4.4 m3/day) and storm water shall be first conveyed to an oil-water separator (maximum flow rate 750 l/h and capacity 12 m3/day) and then conveyed to an on-site wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), which can treat up to 20 m³/day of wastewater with a BOD5 load of 8.1 kg/day. The total amount of sludge produced is approximately 0.23-0.3 m3/day which shall be emptied from the system once every 4-6 months, dried on-site and sent by a specialized Contractor to a licensed landfill. The treated effluent will be used for cleaning/irrigation activities. After treatment, the Operator shall conduct yearly sampling to test the quality of the treated wastewater effluent. Biodiversity During the construction phase, a number of mature trees in the project site (~1,500 trees of types: Pinus Brutia, Quercus Brantii Look, Sarcopoterium Spinosum, Juniperus Excelsa, Salvia Oficinalis, Taraxacum Aleppicum and Beta Vulgaris Maritima) will be removed which leads to habitat fragmentation. The client has committed to plant 3,000 trees nearby in Motraniya lands over a period of 3 years, (1,000/ year) as compensation for removal of trees. Air Quality Construction works will result in dust emissions and fuel combustion pollutants from exhaust fumes of heavy machinery and power generators.

During the operation phase, air pollutants (SO2, NOx, CO, CO2 and PM) are released from engine stacks. Petroleum vapors are also released during fuel loading of oil storage tanks in addition to exhaust emissions (PM, NOx, SOx and CO) released by fuel loading trucks. Mitigation measures such as periodic inspection and monitoring of valves of fuel tank ventilation pipes to ensure proper operation, ensuring a 11

Environmental Impact Assessment third party accredited firm responsible for annual testing of air emissions and Environmental Auditing to confirm compliance with World Bank guidelines and load shedding during idle time to reduce air emissions are recommended. Air Dispersion Modeling was conducted to forecast the impact of air emissions on national ambient air quality limits. CALPUFF (one of U.S. EPA’s preferred air dispersion models) and climatic data (2010-2014) for Beirut/Tripoli were used in this modeling. Noise Quality During construction, excavation works and construction activities will cause noise pollution. According to national noise standards, the project zone is classified as an “Industrial Area”, hence noise levels should be between 60-70 dBA during daytime. During operation, noise will be generated mainly from on-site power engines and fans, in addition to truck passage to and out of the project site. Based on Wärtsilä design, the noise level at the project site will be 70 dBA at 100 m from the edge of the power house or cooling equipment. Mitigation measures such as equip on-site exhaust power engines with silencers, implement schedule of maintenance to maintain power engines and power plant equipment in good and efficient working order and comply with noise standards set by the MoE decision 52/1/96 are recommended. Visual Quality The construction of the power plant may result in temporary minimal visual intrusion due to the removal of natural grounds and the presence of construction material and trucks on the road. The project site will be fenced and construction works will only be conducted during daytime. During the operation phase, transparent colored smoke is expected to be released. Dark colored smokes are signs of excess oil combusted. Solid Waste During the construction phase, the excavation work’s depth will be 1.8 m and the cut materials are estimated at 50,000 m3. Best practice management will be applied by the Contractor to ensure that reusable and recyclable wastes will be appropriately reused, recycled or properly disposed; no wastes will be dumped near project perimeters. During operation phase, different types of wastes are generated: sludge from oil separators/WWTP, oil residues from oil interceptor and domestic solid waste. Mitigation measures such as management (reuse) of accumulated sludge from oil separator and oil residues from oil interceptor, disposal of dewatered sludge in a licensed landfill and domestic waste separation at source (reuse and recycling) are recommended. Power Consumption During construction, power from EDJ and two power generators (400 kVA and 200 kVA) will be present on-site for electrical power needs. During operation, the estimated daily power consumption of the power plant will be around 24,000 KWh/day.

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Environmental Impact Assessment

Traffic The construction of the power plant may result in a short term increase in traffic due to heavy equipment and trucks coming in and out of the construction site. During the operation phase, the power plant can be accessed via three roads: one from Nahr Ibrahim-Bir El Hait south-east of the site, one from Jbeil-Annaya north-east of the site and one from Mastita-Blat west of the site. It is recommended that trucks coming from the north to use Jbeil-Annaya road while those coming from Beirut to use Nahr Ibrahim-Bir El Hait road. Socio-Economic The power plant will allow for work opportunities (155 personnel during construction and 63 personnel during operation) as well as large supplies of construction raw materials. The power plant will boost the economic profile of Jbeil region by providing sufficient energy demands and will lower the power service fees by 37% (this percentage is based on HFO price per ton). This will eliminate the need for private power generators. Jbeil region will attract new investors due to electricity availability (basic element for growth). Therefore, the socio-economic impact of the project is expected to be highly positive. Nonetheless, the power plant will lead to negative impacts regarding private power generators, where ~300 power generator owners will lose their jobs. - Monitoring Plan

Environmental monitoring of the proposed power plant during construction will be the responsibility of the Contractor, while during operation it will be the responsibility of the Operator. Environmental monitoring of the project during operation shall include monitoring of sanitation and waste disposal and wastewater effluent, among others, at different locations in the proposed power plant. Noise measurements will be conducted in the project site upon complaints. The Contractor must also monitor trips of trucks to manage traffic, dust emissions to manage air quality, and waste disposal to manage construction site cleanliness. The Contractor shall coordinate with Blat Municipality as needed. A health & safety plan should be developed and abided by during both the construction and operation phases of the project. - Opportunities  Provide consistent (24hr/24hr) power supply to Blat and 13 surrounding villages (~30,000 households and educational, commercial, industrial, medical, and touristic facilities).  Reduce household electrical bills of Jbeil region by an average of 37% (this percentage is based on HFO price per ton).  Eliminate the need for private power generators.  Cover the electrical shortage of industrial facilities in the indicated areas due to lack of capacity from EDL.  Provide job vacancies for local residents.

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Environmental Impact Assessment

 Provide income for local municipalities (10% of bills within their municipalities).  Attract new industrial opportunities in Blat industrial area and attract new business opportunities (educational, touristic, commercial and medical services).  Provide revenues for Blat municipality (almost 882 million L.L./year), thus availability of funds for improving municipality services and infrastructure. - Conclusion The new power plant project will not have significant adverse impacts on the environment, conditioned that the Client abides by the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) developed for this project.

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Environmental Impact Assessment

1 INTRODUCTION The proposed project entails the construction and operation of a new power plant of capacity 66 MW in the industrial area of Blat - Jbeil Caza, Lebanon. Blat is located in the district of Jbeil 30 km north-east of Beirut at an elevation of 190 m above sea level (a.s.l). The proposed power plant will be constructed on plot No. 4091 of area 66,000 m2 at an elevation of 550 m a.s.l. The land is owned by Deir Mar Maroun. A letter from the Jbeil Maronite Archbishopric approving the rental of plot No. 4091 for developing the proposed power plant is (مطرانية جبيل المارونية) presented in Appendix A. Due to the nature of the proposed project and based on Decree No. 8633 (09/08/2012) of the Ministry of Environment (MoE), an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is needed to identify the environmental impacts of the project and propose appropriate mitigation measures. A letter from the MoE stating the need for an EIA, official permits and maps and the commitment letter of the client are presented in Appendix A. Byblos Advanced Energy (the Client) retained the environmental services of Khatib & Alami Consolidated Engineering Company S.A.L. (K&A) to prepare an EIA study for this project. The CVs of the K&A Environmental Team are attached in Appendix B. Table 1 presents data related to the Client and the EIA Team. Table 1: Client and EIA Team. Name Position Firm Address Khatib & Alami CEC Dr. Mazen Haydar Environmental Studies Manager Beirut, Lebanon Leyla Grizi Environmental Specialist Tel: (961)-1-843843 / 844944 K&A Racha Abu Chakra Senior Environmental Specialist Fax: (961)-1-844400 Dr. Laurence P.O.Box: 14-6203 Beirut 1105 2100 Hydrogeologist Charbel Lebanon Consultant/Air Dispersion Private Dr. Charbel Afif - Modeling Consultant Eng. Mario Chelela Client -Client. -Chairman of Electricité de Jbeil. -Representative of Byblos Advanced Energy. Jbeil, Jbeil Electricity Building -Has extensive experience in the Mount Lebanon, Lebanon Mr. Elie Bassil Byblos Advanced generation and distribution of P.O. Box: 102 Energy S.A.L power in Jbeil area. Telephone: +961-09-546676/0173 -Main provider of private power Fax: 09-546671 in the area of Blat (owner of private power generators). Vectra Holding Client Byblos Invest Bank Client

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Environmental Impact Assessment

The electricity in Jbeil district is provided by Electricité de Jbeil (EDJ). The average cut-off hours in Jbeil are 10 hours/day. The existing power supply is unable to meet the increasing electricity demand in Jbeil (about 10%/year) due to its limited capacity, thus leading to the need of private power generators. Over 300 private power generators operating on red diesel mixed with used oil are distributed in Jbeil region and their service can be described as interrupted and unstable. The operation of private power generators are typically known to cause the following environmental pollution:

 PM, SOx, NOx and CO emissions from burning red diesel mixed with used oil.  Oil leaks and contamination of storm water runoff. Educational services and hospitals existing within Jbeil region are in increasing need for electricity services. Educational services mainly include (Figure 1):  Lebanese American University (LAU) Byblos University Campus is 1.5 km to the north-west.  American University of Technology (AUT) Halat University Campus is 3.5 km to the south-west.  Sisters of the Rosary College is 2.5 km to the north-west.  College de l’Ange Gardien is 2.6 km to the west.  Modern Saint Anthony School is 2 km to the west.  College des Fréres Maristes School is 3.6 km to the north-west.  Sacré Coeur School “SSCC” is 4.5 km to the north-west.  Garderie L’Odyssée is 3 km to the north-west.  Garderie Juniors Á Bord is 3.5 km to the west.  Garderie Lollipop is 2.5 km to the west.  College Officiel de Kartboun is 3 km to the west.  Ecole Amira Daoue is 3.5 km to the north-west.  Ecole Jbeil Secondaire is 3.7 km to the north-west.  Ecole Saint Joseph is 4.5 km to the north-west.  Ecole UNERWA is 2.5 km to the north-west.  Ecole Rosaire is 2.7 km to the north-west. Hospitals (Figure 1):

 Notre Dame Maritime Hospital is 3.5 km to the north-west.  Notre Dame des Secours Hospital is 3.7 km to the north-west.

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Environmental Impact Assessment

Figure 1: Project Site Location. 1.1 Objectives of the EIA Study The main objective of the EIA study is to identify and assess the potential environmental and social impacts that could occur during the construction and operation phases of the proposed project. The EIA study has a number of key objectives as listed below:  Describe the existing environmental and socio-economic conditions prevailing within the project area which could affect or be affected by the project.  Identify and assess the impacts of the project on the existing environment, and describe the appropriate mitigation measures that will be implemented during construction and operation phases. In case that no mitigation measures are suitable, compensation measures will be recommended.  Comply with the local policies and environmental regulations set by the MoE.  Compare different location and technology alternatives to select the most environmentally friendly and feasible option. The following is a detailed list of the steps taken for the development of the EIA:

 Collecting data including different types of relevant literature, studies and reports which have been prepared for the project area, or other reports and studies related to concerned environmental issues. 17

Environmental Impact Assessment

 Coordination with different stakeholders, particularly with the MoE and local people.  Conducting a second public hearing with affected communities with the view to get their opinion and thoughts about the project and documenting them.  Conducting several site visits to the proposed project site.  Preparing baseline environmental data, taking into consideration the different environmental issues. This depended greatly on the field visit to the project site during August 2015 in addition to topographic maps, satellite images, and site investigations.  Considering all environmental aspects, including impacts on the natural, socio-economic and cultural conditions that influence the life and growth of the affected communities.  Identifying and assessing the major environmental impacts of the proposed works during construction and operation.  Recommending appropriate mitigation and compensation measures.  Preparing an environmental management plan (EMP) that summarizes the key environmental and social impacts and their respective mitigation measures, and defines roles and responsibilities for their implementation. A monitoring plan will be developed to provide specific description and technical details of monitoring measures, reporting procedures and timeframe.  Preparing the EIA report to document the findings, recommended mitigation measures, and the environmental management and monitoring plans. 1.2 Scope of Work The scope of work implemented in the preparation of this EIA report includes the following:

 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework  Project Description  Baseline Environmental Conditions  Impact Analysis and Mitigation Measures  Public Participation  Environmental Management Plan  Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening  Analysis of Alternatives  Summary and Conclusion  References  Appendices

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2 POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK This chapter offers a description of the associated laws, policies and regulations as well as any international standards and guidelines relevant to the proposed project. The institutions that are directly or indirectly linked to the construction works and/or the operation of the development are also listed herein. The MoE issued the Decree No. 8633 in August 2012, which provides a comprehensive description of the EIA procedures (Figure 2). It also identifies the responsibilities of major stakeholders, as well as the role of the MoE as a principal coordinator within the EIA system. The EIA system in Lebanon follows the requirements of the above mentioned EIA decree of the MoE, which is the relevant authority in this regard. The EIA procedures in the guidelines of the World Bank are also taken into consideration where need be in this document.

Figure 2: Description of EIA Procedures in Lebanon. 19

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2.1 Concerned Authorities/Institutions The institutional framework is defined and dictated by the objectives of the project. In addition to the MoE, other governmental organizations are involved and play a role in environmental protection. In particular, the following ministries and stakeholders may get involved:

 Byblos Advanced Energy  Electricité de Jbeil (EDJ)  Ministry of Energy and Water, Electricité du Liban (EDL)  Ministry of Public Health  Ministry of Industry  The Municipality of Blat  Municipalities of: Amchit, Edde, Fidar, Halat, Hosrayel, Jbeil, Jeddayel, Kartboun, Mastita, Monsef, Nahr Ibrahim, Rihani and Chikhan 2.2 Legislative Framework in Lebanon The Lebanese government established the Ministry of Environment (MoE) in 1993 by the law No.216 )later modified by law No.667 in 1997(. The MoE’s main tasks include monitoring and control of environmental parameters, protection of natural reserves and prevention from pollution. The MoE also sets the environmental standards, specifications and guidelines for different sectors that might have an impact on the environment. The national laws, decrees and decisions relevant to the proposed project are listed in Table 2: Table 2: National Laws, Decrees and Decisions.

Law Date Brief Description  Protecting the environment from hazardous materials and establishment of a Law 64/88 08/12/1988 Higher Council for Environmental Protection. Law 216 04/02/1993  Establishment of the Ministry of Environment.  Requirements for liquid petroleum products, transport tanks, distribution Decree 5509 11/08/1994 stations, storage and mobilization of fuel gas. Decree 5591 30/08/1994  Organization of the Ministry of Environment.  Environmental limit values for water, ambient air, noise and soil quality (partly Decision 52/1 29/06/1996 updated in Decision 8/1 dated 30/1/2001). Decree 1039 12/08/1999  Specifications for potable water.  Amendment to part of MoE Decision 52/1 dated 29/6/1996. Decision 8/1 30/01/2001  Specifications for air emissions, liquid effluents and wastewater treatment plants. Decree 5243 05/04/2001  Classification of the industrial establishments.  Environment Protection Law (7 parts, 68 articles).  Fundamental principles and public rules.  Organization of environmental protection.  Environmental information system and participation in the management and Law 444 29/07/2002 protection of the environment.  Environmental Impact Assessment.  Protection of environmental media.  Responsibilities and fines.

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Law Date Brief Description  Other regulations (miscellaneous, institutional).  Restructuring of Electricite du Liban.  Sector regulation and participation of private sector. Law 462 02/09/2002  Creation of an independent regulatory body to monitor and control electricity sector. Decision 1/476 30/05/2012  Tree removal permit for rehabilitation and reclamation purposes.  The EIA decree that sets requirements and procedures for the preparation of Decree 8633 09/08/2012 an EIA report. Taamim 9/1 26/06/2014  Reminder to attach important documents to the EIA/IEE report. Decision 261/1 25/06/2015  Review Mechanism of MoE for EIA Report and Environmental Scoping Report.

2.3 Environmental Standards 2.3.1 Technical Considerations for Oil Storage Tanks (Decree 5509/1994) The following guidelines are for technical considerations as detailed in decree No. 5509 (11/08/1994) related to oil storage tanks:

 The oil storage tank should be made of 4 mm thick carbon treated steel.  The inner layer of the oil storage tank should be made of bitumen and the outer layer made of fiberglass.  The tank should be placed in a larger concrete tank (10 cm concrete) with anti-leakage coating.  The distance separating the oil storage tank and the concrete tank should be 30 cm and crushed stones should be present between both tanks.  The distance between the storage tank bottom and the retention device should be at least 10 cm.  The vent pipe should be connected to a double valve system of 3 cm diameter covered with demister, and placed at the highest point of the power plant building linked to the ground.  The oil storage tank should be subjected to air or water pressure test to ensure the absence of any leakages; this pressure should be at least 0.1 MPa for 10 minutes. This test should be done by the Industrial Research Institute or by a specialized institute that can provide the proposed power plant with a certificate.  The oil storage tank should be equipped with an opening (at least 56 cm) for cleaning purposes with a maximum height of 12 cm and closed with a tight lid.  The oil storage tank should have a monitoring hole to check the amount of stored oil using a metallic probe that does not produce any spark during friction.  Three holes should be present: the pressure test hole (10 minutes at 0.1 MPa), a monitoring hole, and a filling hole (length: 12 cm). 2.3.2 Noise (Decision 52/1/1996) The Ministry of Environment issued the decision 52/1 (12/9/1996) that sets the limits for noise levels according to the type of region (Table 3). The proposed project is located in an Industrial Area. Therefore, according to Table 3, noise levels should be within the limit standards of the region type “Industrial Areas” set by the MoE.

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Table 3: Permissible Noise Levels in Selected Areas (Decision 52/1).

Limit for Noise Level (dBA) Region Type Day Time Evening Time Night Time (7 am till 6 pm) (6pm till 10 pm) (10 pm till 7 am) Commercial and Administrative 55-65 50-60 45-55 areas/City center. Residential areas with some construction sites or commercial 50-60 45-55 40-50 activities or located near a road. Residential urban areas. 45-55 40-50 35-45 Residential rural areas/hospitals 35-45 30-40 25-35 and public gardens. Industrial areas. 60-70 55-65 50-60 2.3.3 Air Quality (Decisions 52/1/1996 and 8/1/2001) Decision No. 52/1 (09/12/1996) also sets permissible levels for ambient air quality in Lebanon. Therefore, ambient air quality should comply with the permissible levels set by the MoE (Table 4). Table 4: Permissible Levels for Ambient Air Quality in Lebanon (Decision 52/1/1996).

Pollutant Max. Concentration (µg/m3) Averaging Time 350 1 hr. Sulfur Dioxide 120 24 hrs. 80 1 yr. 200 1 hr. Nitrogen Dioxide 150 24 hrs. 100 1 yr. 150 1 hr. Ozone 100 8 hrs. 30000 1 hr. Carbon Monoxide 10000 8 hrs. Total Suspended Particles 120 24 hrs. Particulate Matter < 10µm 80 24 hrs. Lead 1 1 yr. Benzene 5 ppb 1 yr.

Decision 8/1/2001 sets permissible levels for power generators with capacities more than 0.5 MW operating on heavy fuel oil (Table 5). Table 5: Power Generators that Operate on Heavy Fuel Oil (Capacity > 0.5 MW) (Decision 8/1/2001). Pollutant New Facilities Comments Oxygen correction 5% - 20 When cyclone filter is used Dust (mg/m3) 150 Diesel 250 Other Fuels CO (mg/m3) 800 - NOx (mg/m3) 2,000 -

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SOx (mg/m3):  Diesel (according to European - - standards)  Other fuels 3,000

However, for the proposed project, international standards shall apply until MoE finalizes the update of their new emission limit values. Hence, World Bank guidelines will be adopted in the proposed project due to the lack of local standards related to air emissions generated from power generators > 50 MW (Table 6).

Table 6: World Bank Guidelines for Power Plants with Capacity > 50 MW. Parameter World Bank Guidelines (mg/Nm3) PM 50

Sulfur oxide calc. as SO2 1,170 1,460 Nitrogen oxide calc. as NO 2 (Bore size < 400 mm in proposed project) 2.3.4 Potable Water Quality (Decree 1039/1999) Decree 1039 (12/08/1999) sets the organoleptic, physical, chemical and microbial standards for potable water (Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9). Table 7: Organoleptic Properties for Potable Water. Physical Properties Maximum Allowable Limit Color 20 units* Turbidity 10 units** Taste (reduced at 12°C) 0 (reduced at 25°C) 3 Odour (reduced at 12°C) 0 (reduced at 25°C) 2 *=Color unit is calculated in Cobalt Platin. **=Turbidity unit is calculated in Jackson for turbidity. Table 8: Physical and Chemical Properties for Potable Water. Properties Maximum Allowable Limit Conductivity at 20°C 1500 µS/cm

Cl2 0.3 Concentration of Hydrogen Ions 6.5-8.5 Dissolved Solids 500 Copper 1 Iron 0.3 Magnesium 50 Manganese 0.05 Sulphates 250 Zinc 5 CaCO3 200 Chloride 200 Calcium 250 Phenol 0.001 Mineral Oils - 23

Environmental Impact Assessment

Properties Maximum Allowable Limit Extract of Chloroform on Coal 0.2 Benzene - Ammonia - Phosphate 1 Organic Material 0.5 Nitrite 0.05 H2S 0.05 Nitrate 45 Sodium 150 Potassium 12 Aluminum 0.2 Arsenic 0.05 Cadmium 0.005 Cyan 0.05 Mercury 0.001 Selenium 0.01 Lead 0.01 Chrome 0.05 Barium 0.5 Silver 0.01 Nickel 0.02 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: -Florantine -0.0002 -Benzflorantine 4.3 -0.002 -Benzofloratine 12.11 -0.001 -Benzopyrene 4.3 -0.001 -Benzoperylene 12.1 -0.002 -Indeno pyrene -0.002 Fluorine: -between 8-12°C -1.5 -between 25-30°C -0.7 Halogenated Organic Compounds 0.06 Chloroform 0.1 Aldrin + Dieldrin 0.00002 Lindane 0.0002 Mitoxy chlorine 0.02 Toxapheen 0.003 4.2 tetraacetic acid 0.03 2(5.4.2) triacetic acid 0.009 Table 9: Microbial Parameters for Potable Water.

Properties Maximum Allowable Limit Total coliform 0 in 100 ml Streptococcus faecalis 0 in 250 ml Sulphite reducing bacteria 0 in 50 ml Total fecal coliform 0 in 250 ml E.coli at temperature: 37 and 44.5°C 0 in 250 ml Pseudomonas aeruginosa 0 in 250 ml Total microbiological air at temperature 22°C and 100 in 1 ml stored for 72 hours. At temperature 37°C and stored for 24 hours. 20 in 1 ml 24

Environmental Impact Assessment

2.3.5 Reclaimed Water Used for Irrigation (Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/1985) FAO sets guidelines for the quality of reclaimed water used for irrigation (Table 10). Table 10: Quality of Reclaimed Water Used for Irrigation (FAO, 1985). Parameter Standard pH 6.5-8.4 BOD ≤ 30 mg/l TSS ≤ 30 mg/l TDS < 450 mg/l Sodium < 3 SAR Chloride <4 meq/l Boron < 0.7 mg/l Nitrate < 5 mg/l Bicarbonate < 1.5 meq/l Aluminum 5 mg/l Arsenic 0.1 mg/l Beryllium 0.1 mg/l Boron 0.75 mg/l Cadmium 0.01 mg/l Chromium 0.1 mg/l Cobalt 0.05 mg/l Copper 0.2 mg/l Fluoride 1 mg/l Iron 5 mg/l Lead 5 mg/l Lithium 2.5 mg/l Manganese 0.2 mg/l Molybdenum 0.01 mg/l Nickel 0.2 mg/l Selenium 0.02 mg/l Vanadium 0.1 mg/l Zinc 2 mg/l 2.3.6 Sludge Quality (United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)/1991) The U.S. EPA sets guidelines for the quality of sludge generated from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) (Table 11). Table 11: Standards for Sludge Quality (U.S. EPA, 1991). Parameter Standard Arsenic 75 mg/kg Cadmium 85 mg/kg Chromium 3,000 mg/kg Copper 4,300 mg/kg Lead 840 mg/kg Mercury 57 mg/kg Molybdenum 75 mg/kg Nickel 420 mg/kg Selenium 100 mg/kg Zinc 7,500 mg/kg 25

Environmental Impact Assessment

2.4 International Conventions Lebanon has signed and ratified many international conventions regarding environmental legislation, and these form the backbone of Lebanese environmental legislation. Some of these international conventions are presented in Table 12 below: Table 12: International Conventions, Treaties and Protocols.

Subject Conventions and Protocols Date UNESCO Convention 21/11/1972, 06/11/1972 Protection of biodiversity, heritage Vienna Agreement 1985 and atmosphere. Montreal Protocol 1987 Rio de Janeiro Convention 05/06/1992 Kyoto protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Kyoto Protocol 15/05/2006 Climate Change aiming to fight Global Warming. Stockholm convention on persistent Stockholm Convention 2001 organic pollutants. Montreal protocol on substances Montreal Protocol 1987 that deplete the ozone layer. Basal convention on the control of trans-boundary movements of Basal Convention 1995 hazardous waste and their disposal. International convention on oil pollution preparedness, response Oil Pollution Convention 1990 and cooperation.

2.5 International Guidelines 2.5.1 European Union Directives The program of General Directorate for Environment )Directorat Générale de l’Environnement - DGXI) within the European Union (EU) includes many studies, reports and directives for the increased protection of the environment by tightening the enforcement measures. These directives refer to generic issues that must be applied and often adapted to various industries and situations, by Member States. For instance, the directives for water, air, environmental assessment and waste are of particular relevance to environmental protection to the European Union. 2.5.2 The World Bank The EIA report shall meet the MoE requirements, taking into consideration relevant World Bank Standards. The World Bank Environmental Assessment guidelines including the Environmental Assessment Operational Policy 4.01 (1989) and the Environmental Assessment Sourcebook (1991) have become standard procedures for all World Bank financed investment projects, and have been adopted by private sector banks and other international finance institutions. In addition, the World Bank has set General Environmental Guidelines (GEG) which are used to assess water quality and pollution control (Pollution Prevention and Abatement Handbook, 1998). They form a framework within which water quality can be interpreted. 26

Environmental Impact Assessment

This EIA report takes into consideration the national standards set by the MoE and the relevant World Bank guidelines to fill in any missing gap. 2.6 Project Classification Identifying the class or category of the proposed project is an essential part of the EIA procedure. This screening process aims to identify the aspects of the concerned project in terms of environmental significance. According to the MoE requirements, projects are generally classified into three main categories on the basis of the nature, magnitude and sensitivity of the environmental issues as follows: - Annex 1: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is normally required, as the project may have diverse and significant environmental impacts (Appendix A). - Annex 2: An Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) is required and a less extensive environmental analysis is appropriate, as the project is foreseen to have limited environmental impacts. - Annex 3: Defines environmentally sensitive areas where an EIA may be required for specific projects listed in Annex 2 if they are to be developed on or near sensitive areas. Based on the above mentioned classification, the proposed power plant project is classified as an Annex 1 project. Hence, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required. Each potential impact that might result from the construction and operation phases of the project shall be controlled and monitored according to the relevant laws, decrees and decisions. Table 13 is a summary of applicable decrees/decisions for the potential impacts that might result from the proposed project. Table 13: Regulations Corresponding to Each Potential Impact.

Environmental Aspect Legislation Decision 52/1, Decision 8/1 and World Air Quality Bank Guidelines Potable Water Quality Decree 1039 Wastewater Discharge Decision 8/1 Noise Quality Decision 52/1 Installation & Maintenance of Oil Tanks Decree 5509

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3 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT 3.1 Purpose and Objectives of the Project The proposed power plant will have an approximate capacity of 66 MW and will use heavy fuel oil (HFO) Grade B for operation. The power plant can be easily transformed to work on natural gas when available. The construction period of the proposed power plant will be 14 months. The proposed project will cost about $35 million. The power plant will have a lifetime of 25 years and can be renewed for another 25 years with new generators. It will be connected directly to the present distribution network of EDJ. The power plant will produce an output of 15 KV. The proposed power plant is expected to provide a better quality of service, a continuous supply of power at a relatively lower cost. Table 14 presents a comparison between the current power service fees and the estimated fees if the project is to be implemented. Table 14: Current Service Fees vs. Proposed Fees. Present Conditions Proposed Power Plant (66 MW) (EDJ and Private Generators)  Current price of HFO: $300.  15 ¢/KW (average monthly bill: $72).  Average of 27 A from EDJ ($32).  Savings: 50% monthly.  Average of 12 A from private generators ($118).  Average price of HFO: $527.  Total: $150/month.  20.2 ¢/KW (average monthly bill: $96).  Savings: 37% monthly. The monthly price of KWh is based on the following formula (supplied by the Client): T1= T0 (0.24 + (0.028 x S1/S0) + (0.7 x F1/F0) + (0.032 x M1/M0)) Whereby: Symbol Meaning T1 Tariff at time T1 T0 Tariff at time T0 S1 Labor indicator at time T1 S0 Labor indicator at time T0 F1 Indicator of HFO prices at time T1 F0 Indicator of HFO prices at time T0 M1 Indicator (Switzerland) for price of electromechanical and spare parts at time T1 M0 Indicator (Switzerland) for price of electromechanical and spare parts at time T0

A map showing the distribution of power service to project beneficiaries is attached in Appendix C. The proposed power plant has the following objectives:  Provide consistent power supply to Blat and 13 surrounding villages (Amchit, Edde, Fidar, Halat, Hosrayel, Jbeil, Jeddayel, Kartboun, Mastita, Monsef, Nahr Ibrahim, Rihani and Chikhan).

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 30,000 households and educational, commercial, industrial, medical, and touristic facilities will benefit from the power plant.  24hr/24hr consistent power supply.  Reduce household electrical bills of the Jbeil region by an average of 37% (equivalent of $20 million/year) for 30,000 households (this percentage is based on HFO price per ton).  Eliminate the need for private power generators.  Reduce and control noise and air pollution.  Reduce the contamination of storm water runoff.  Cover the electrical shortage of industrial facilities in the indicated areas due to lack of capacity from EDL.  Provide job vacancies for local residents.  Provide income for local municipalities (10% of bills within their municipalities).  60% of the project shares will be owned by the public.  Project management will be shared by the public.  Attract new industrial opportunities in Blat industrial area.  Attract new business opportunities (educational, touristic, commercial and medical services) since electricity availability is a major pre-requisite for these investments.  Provide revenues for Blat municipality (almost 882 million L.L./year), thus availability of funds for improving municipality services and infrastructure.  Sell electrical surplus to EDL (optional). The current provided power services have kept the consumers in Jbeil area to be dissatisfied due to the following reasons:  Two electrical bills (one from EDJ and another from private generators).  High service fee from private power generators.  Inconvenience due to insufficient power supply (5A or 10A).  Damage of household electrical appliances.  High noise levels and odors. A map showing the distribution of private power generators within Jbeil area is attached in Appendix C.

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3.1 Project Location The proposed power plant will be located in Blat - Jbeil Caza, Lebanon. Blat is located in the district of Jbeil 30 km north-east of Beirut at an elevation of 190 m a.s.l. The proposed power plant will be constructed on plot No. 4091 of area 66,000 m2 in an industrial area in Blat at an elevation of 550 m a.s.l. The project parcel boundaries are presented in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Project Parcel Boundaries and Coordinates. 3.2 Plot Description According to decree 5243/2001, the proposed power plant follows the classification of industries as shown in Figure 4. Accordingly, based on decree 1120/1936, the power plant is classified as category 2 (Figure 5).

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Figure 4: Decree 5243/2001.

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Figure 5: Appendix from Decree 1120/1936.

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3.3 Project Site Surroundings The nearest residence is about 200 m south-west of the site and the nearest residential area is 1 km to the west (Figure 6). The project area is surrounded by industrial facilities that consume between 250 KVA and 3,000 KVA during cut-off hours such as:

 UNIPAK  Liban Cables  Lebano Autrichien Pour Tubes  Steel Wire Lebanon  Masterpak  Pharmaline Some industrial facilities are present in immediate vicinity of the project site (Figure 6).

0.13 km 0.17 km

0.16 km

Figure 6: Industrial Facilities around Project Site. 33

Environmental Impact Assessment

The project site is located in the industrial zone of Blat. Figure 7 presents the location of factories/residences/sites at a radius of 500 m away from the project site.

Figure 7: 500 m Radius. 3.4 Project Components The proposed power plant has an approximate capacity of 66 MW and will operate at 60% load on low- sulfur (maximum sulfur 1%) Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) Grade B. The surface coverage will be 29,000 m2 and the built-up area will be 3,000 m2. The total excavated area will be 33,000 m2. The proposed power plant will be designed and supplied by Wärtsilä in accordance with European and international standards, and will be built, operated and maintained by Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor (BWSC). The proposed power plant is designed for base load (cop) operation and is intended for power generation. Based on Wärtsilä design, the noise level at the project site will be 70 dBA at 100 m from the edge of the power house or cooling equipment. The plant is composed of 7 medium speed diesel generation sets of type Wärtsilä 20V32 with ABB AMG alternators, each rated 9.4 MWe. 60% of the generation sets will be operating, leaving the rest (40%) as backup in case of any failure of generators and/or satisfy increase in power demand. To enhance plant efficiency in future, each unit will be fitted with Exhaust Gas Waste Heat Recovery boiler, generating HP steam for one steam turbine generator rated at 8% of total output i.e. 5 MWe. The proposed power plant will have the following components: 1. 1 cluster of 7 stacks at a height of 40 m (a cross-section is attached in Appendix D). 34

Environmental Impact Assessment

2. Engine Room:

 Engines with generators.  Auxiliary skids (fuel oil, lubricating oil, cooling water).  Electrical rooms with LV, HV panels and control system. 3. Above ground oil storage and daily tanks. 4. Lubricating oil tanks and separator units. 5. Oil separators and sludge accumulators. 6. Administration building, warehouse, storage. 7. Storm water network. 8. Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). 9. Fire detection and fire-fighting system. 10. Electrical and mechanical installations:

 Emergency lighting.  Temperature adjustment of Electrical Rooms.  Air conditioning systems: control rooms and offices + roof top units or split units with back-up arrangements. The proposed power plant will be fenced (height of fence: 3 m) and will have 2 secured gates (Figure 8 and Figure 9). Five (5) trucks having a load of 188 ton/day (43.7 tons each) or ten (10) trucks (~20 tons each) will enter the power plant daily (on work days) and will pump the fuel into the oil storage tanks.

Figure 8: Security Fence.

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Figure 9: Backside. 3.5 Power Engines The proposed power plant has 7 engines and is designed to operate using HFO Grade B with less than 1 % sulfur to meet local standards and IFC/World Bank regulations 2008. The plant can be converted to burn natural gas (NG) when available. Light Fuel Oil is used as emergency fuel for service only but can be also used for longer periods in case of HFO shortage. The generator is of the synchronous, three-phase, brushless, salient pole type (Table 15). The power engines used in the proposed power plant are of four (4) stroke internal combustion type. Table 16, Table 17 and Table 18 present the flows per engine, the exhaust gas and the mass flow per engine. Table 15: Characteristics of Generator. Characteristic Value Rated Power Factor 0.8 Nominal Voltage 15,000 V Voltage Adjustment Range ± 5 % Frequency 50 Hz Speed 750 rpm Temperature Rise F Cooling Method Air Cooled Enclosure IP 23 Standard IEC60034 Table 16: Flows per Engine. Parameter Value Suction air flow ±5 % 64.6t/h Exhaust gas flow ±5 % 66.5 t/h Net liquid fuel flow 1.908 t/h Lubricating oil consumption 0.0035 t/h

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Table 17: Exhaust Gas. Parameter Value

O2 11.02 vol-% N2 75.2 vol-% Ar 0.895 vol-% He 0 vol-%

CO2 5.92 vol-% H2O 6.14 vol-% Table 18: Mass Flow per Engine. Parameter Value

NOx (calculated as NO2) 0.0999*24=2.3976 ton/day=10.7 g/kWh SOx (calculated as SO2) 0.0409*24=0.9816 ton/day=4.37 g/kWh PM (filterable) 0.00333*24=0.08 ton/day=0.368 g/kWh

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Figure 10 presents a schematic drawing of the power plant process.

Figure 10: Power Plant Schematic Process.

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Environmental Impact Assessment

3.6 Oil (HFO, LFO and Lubricating Oil) Figure 11 presents the lubricating oil system in the power plant.

Figure 11: Lubricating Oil System. Table 19 presents the HFO tanks capacity and Table 20 presents the lubricating oil tanks capacity. Table 19: Oil Tanks Capacity. Oil Tank Capacity 2 HFO storage tanks (for 20 days) 3,600 m3 each 1 HFO buffer tank (for 18 hours) 275 m3 1 HFO daily tank (service tank) 280 m3 1 LFO day tank (service tank) 70 m3 Table 20: Lubricating Tanks Capacity. Lubricating Tanks Capacity 1 fresh/new lube oil (for 20 days) 25 m3 1 service tank (oil sump +15%) 5 m3 1 used lube oil tank 25 m3

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Environmental Impact Assessment

Table 21 presents the characteristics of Heavy Fuel Oil provided by Wärtsilä: Table 21: Maximum Limits for Heavy Fuel Oil.

Property Unit Limit HFO 1 Limit HFO 2 Test Method Reference cSt 700 / 55 700 / 55 Viscosity at 50-100 °C, max. at Redwood No. 7200 7200 ISO 3104 100 °F, max. 1 sec. Viscosity before injection cSt 20±4 20±4 pumps 1) Kg/m3 997.0 / 1010.0 991.0 / 1010.0 2) Density at 15 °C, max. ISO 3675 or 12185 2) CCAI, max. 3) 850 870* ISO 8217, Annex B Water max. % V/V 0.5 0.5 ISO 3733 1) Water before engine, max. 1) % V/V 0.3 0.3 ISO 3733 1) Sulphur, max. % m/m 1.50** 4.50*** ISO 8574 or 14596 Ash, max. % m/m 0.05 0.15 ISO 6245 1) Vanadium, max. 5) mg/kg 100 600 ISO 14597 or IP 501 or 470 Sodium, max. 5) mg/kg 50 50 ISO 10478 Sodium before engine, max. 1) mg/kg 30 30 ISO 10478 5) Aluminum + Silicon, max. mg/kg 30 80 ISO 10478 or IP 501 or 470 Aluminum + Silicon before mg/kg 15 15 ISO 10478 or IP 501 or 470 engine, max 1) Carbon residue, max. % m/m 15 30 ISO 10370 Asphaltenes, max. 1) % m/m 8 14 ASTM D 3279 Flash point (PMCC), min. °C 60 60 ISO 2719 Pour point, max. °C 30 30 ISO 3016 Total sediment potential, max. % m/m 0.10 0.10 ISO 10307-2 Used lubricating oil 8) -Calcium, max. mg/kg 30 30 IP 501 or 470 -Zinc, max. mg/kg 15 15 IP 501 or 470 -Phosphorus, max. mg/kg 15 15 IP 501 or 500 ***Sulphur content is directly linked to emissions. The limits above concerning the “HFO 2” also correspond to the demands of: - BS MA 100: 1996, RMH 55 and RMK 55 - CIMAC 2003, Grade K 700 - ISO 8217:2005 (E), ISO-F-RMK 700 1 Additional properties specified by the engine manufacturer, which are not included in the ISO specification. 2 Max. 1010 kg/m3 at 15 °C, provided the fuel treatment system can remove water and solids. 3 Straight run residues show CCAI values in the 770 to 840 range and are very good igniters. Cracked residues delivered as bunkers may range from 840 to – in exceptional cases- above 900. Most bunkers remain in the max. 850 to 870 range at the moment. 5 Sodium contributes to hot corrosion on exhaust valves when combined with high sulphur and vanadium contents. Sodium also strongly contributes to fouling of the exhaust gas turbine blading at high loads. The aggressiveness of the fuel depends on its proportions of sodium and vanadium, but also on the total amount of ash. Hot corrosion and deposit formation are, however, also influenced by other ash constituents. It is therefore difficult to set strict limits based only on the sodium and vanadium content of the fuel. Also a fuel with lower sodium and vanadium contents than specified above, can cause hot corrosion on engine components. 8 A fuel is considered to contain used lubrication oil (ULO), during: - Calcium > 30 mg/kg and zinc > 15 mg/kg - Calcium > 30 mg/kg and phosphorous > 15 mg/kg 40

Environmental Impact Assessment

Table 22 presents the characteristics of Heavy Fuel Oil Grade B that will be used in the power plant: Table 22: Characteristics of Heavy Fuel Oil Grade B. Parameter Value Unit Limit Viscosity at 50°C 380 mm2/s Max Density at 15° C 991 Kg/m3 Max Micro carbon residue 18 % m/m Max Aluminum + silicon 60 mg/kg Max Sodium 100 mg/kg Max Ash 0.10 % m/m Max Vanadium 350 mg/kg Max CCAI 870 - Max Water 0.5 % V/V Max Pour point (upper), 30 °C Max summer Pour point (upper), 30 °C Max winter Flash point 60 °C Max Sulphur 1 % m/m Max Total sediment, aged 0.1 % m/m Max Acid number 2.5 mgKOH/g Max The fuel shall be free from ULO, and shall be considered to Used lubricating oils contain ULO (ULO): when either one Calcium and zinc; or mg/kg - of the following Calcium and conditions is met: Phosphorus Calcium > 30 and zinc > 15; or Calcium > 30 and phosphorous > 15 Hydrogen sulphide 2 mg/kg Max

Only lubricants that are approved by Wärtsilä are allowed to be used. The major lubricating oil suppliers have certain lubricating oils which are approved by Wärtsilä. The properties of the fresh lubricating oil must meet the requirements presented in Table 23: Table 23: Properties of the Fresh Lubricating Oil. Parameter Requirements Viscosity Class SAE 40 Viscosity Index Minimum 95 Sulphated Ash Level Maximum 0.6 % Alkalinity 4 – 7 mg KOH/g In case of special oil: Alkalinity 10-20 mg KOH/g

Corrosion inhibiting additives must be used in the engine cooling water (Table 24 and Table 25). Only additives of the brand and types approved by Wärtsilä are allowed to be used.

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Environmental Impact Assessment

Table 24: Limits for Engine Cooling (Primary Circuit), Turbine Washing, & Separator Operating Water. Parameter Requirement pH at 25°C > 6.5 Conductivity at 25°C (limit for turbine washing) < 100 mS/m

Table 25: Maximum Allowed Concentration of Impurities at Charge Air Inlet. Parameter Requirement 1.5 mg/Nm3 Chlorides (Nm3 given at 0 °C and 1013 mbar) 1.16 mass-ppm Dust Concentration with Particles > 5 µm 3 mg/Nm3 94 mg/Nm3 Ammonia (NH ) 3 0.125 volume-ppm 3.7 Charge Air System The oil wetted type filter contains filter panels that move vertically upward across the front face of the housing and downward across the front face on the clean side, down to the oil bath, where the filter elements are cleaned and the dust particles are collected in the oil (Figure 12). The air inlet to the filter is protected against rain and snow by a vertical weather louver.

Figure 12: Oil Wetted Filter and Weather Louver. 3.8 Exhaust System The exhaust gas of the engine is discharged at the required height through the exhaust gas silencer and stack pipe. The exhaust gas silencer reduces the exhaust noise from the engine. 3.9 Exhaust Gas Silencer The exhaust gas silencer reduces the noise emission from the engine exhaust outlet by 35 dbA. 3.10 Insulation Exhaust Gas Ducting (Set) This includes insulation material and cladding for the exhaust gas ducts inside the building and in accessible places with a surface temperature over 60 °C up to the exhaust gas stack.

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3.11 Exhaust Gas Stack Pipe The exhaust gas of the engine is discharged through the exhaust gas stack. 1 cluster of 7 stacks at a height of 40 m will be present in the proposed power plant (a cross-section is attached in Appendix D). The characteristics of the exhaust gas stack are presented in Table 26: Table 26: Characteristics of Exhaust Gas Pipe Stack. Characteristic Value Diameter DN1100 Material Corten B Height above Ground Level 40 m

Figure 13, Figure 14 and Figure 15 are a 3-D layout, a 3-D section and a 2-D layout of the power plant. A cross-section and a layout section of the proposed power plant are attached in Appendix D.

Figure 13: 3-D Layout of the Power Plant.

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Figure 14: 3-D Section.

Figure 15: 2-D Layout of Power Plant. The raw materials that will be used during the operation phase are presented in Table 27: Table 27: Raw Materials Used at 60% and 100% Load Operation. 100% Operation 60% Operation 203.9g/kWh or 317m3/day of HFO (±5% 206.2g/kWh to 195m3/day of HFO * depending on density (~ 0.991 kg/m3) * 0.588 m3/day of lubricating oil 0.352 m3/day of lubricating oil (Storage) 5.3 m3x7= 37.1 m3 each 2 yrs. (Storage) 5.3 m3x7= 37.1m3 each 2 (0.055 m3/day) of oil sump yrs. (0.055 m3/day) of oil sump * For Fuel Lowest Calorific Value (LCV) = 42.7 kJ/g

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3.12 Production Process The proposed power plant will operate reciprocating internal combustion engines characterized by spark-ignited combustion. 3.12.1 General Engine Description The Wärtsilä 32 is a four stroke engine. The engine is designed for continuous operation on Heavy Fuel Oil, and can be started and stopped on HFO if the fuel is heated to the operating temperature. Light Fuel Oil is a back-up fuel. 3.12.2 Diesel Process The engine works according to the diesel process (Figure 16). In this process liquid fuel is injected into the cylinder at high pressure by camshaft operated pumps. The fuel is ignited instantly due to the high temperature resulting from the compression. Combustion takes place under constant pressure, with fuel injected into the cylinder during combustion. After the working phase, the exhaust gas valves open, and the cylinder is emptied of exhaust gases. The intake air is turbocharged and intercooled.

Figure 16: Combustion Process. 3.12.3 Engine Main Data Table 28 presents the characteristics of the power plant engines. Table 28: Engine Data. Configuration Value Unit Number of Cylinders 20 - Cylinder Bore 320 mm Stroke 400 mm Speed 750 rpm Mean Piston Speed 10 m/s Mean Effective Pressure 24.9 bar Swept Volume per Cylinder 32.2 dm3 Compression Ratio 16.3:1 - Number of Inlet Valves 2 - Number of Outlet Valves 2 - Direction of Rotation Facing towards Flywheel Clockwise - 3.12.4 Fuel Oil System All high pressure fuel injection equipment are located in a closed compartment with a removable cover )“hot box”(, providing maximum reliability and safety for preheated heavy fuel. 45

Environmental Impact Assessment

3.12.5 Lubricating Oil System The engine has a wet oil sump system. The system lubricates the main bearings and the cylinder liners in the engine. Oil is led through bores in the engine block, and heads to other lubricating points like the camshaft bearings, the injection pump tappets and valves, the rocker arm bearings and the valve mechanism gear wheel bearings. The turbochargers are also connected to the engine lubricating system. Furthermore, the lubricating oil also cools the piston crowns. 3.12.6 Starting Air System The engine is started with compressed air, with a nominal pressure of 30 bar. The start is performed by directing air into the cylinders through starting air valves in the cylinder heads. 3.12.7 Cooling Water System The engine is cooled by a closed circuit cooling water system, divided into a high temperature (HT) circuit and a low temperature (LT) circuit. The cooling water is cooled in a separate cooler in the external cooling water system. The HT-circuit cools the cylinders, the cylinder heads, the turbochargers, and the first stage charge air cooler. A thermostatic valve controls the outlet temperature of the circuit. The LT-circuit cools the second stage of the charge air cooler, and a thermostatic valve controls the outlet temperature of the circuit. The engines are equipped with a two-stage charge air cooling system. The cooler is built onto the engine. 3.12.8 Charge Air System The compressor side of the turbocharger feeds air into the cylinders through the charge air cooler. The engine is equipped with one turbocharger per cylinder bank. The turbocharger is of the axial turbine type. 3.12.9 Exhaust Gas System The engine mounted exhaust gas pipes are made of cast iron, with separate sections for each cylinder. Stainless steel bellows are installed between the sections to absorb heat expansion. The pipes are fixed by brackets, but are free to move axially. The engine exhaust gas pipes are fully covered by an insulation box. 3.12.10 Heavy Fuel Oil System HFO is the main fuel for the power plant. A preheated engine can be started directly on HFO when the fuel oil has been circulated through the fuel system, and has thus achieved the correct temperature and pressure. The engine can also be stopped on HFO if the fuel circulation can be restarted after the outage, or the external system has to stay in operation i.e. fuel must be circulated through the stopped engine continuously for heating purposes. The HFO system is designed for a maximum fuel viscosity of 420 cSt at 50 °C. Detailed technical data of the production process in the power plant are attached in Appendix F.

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3.13 Material Balance Diagram A material balance diagram is presented in Figure 17 showing the input and output materials during the construction and operation phases. During Construction: Air Emissions

-Dust from construction machinery. -Construction works. Air emissions -Exhaust fumes (CO2, SOx, NOx) from construction machinery.

Water Consumption

-Water used for construction -Wastewater from construction works: 10 m3/day. works: 8 m3/day. Wastewater -Water consumption by workers: -Wastewater from workers: 30 m3/day. 24 m3/day.

Domestic Solid Waste

-Construction waste: to be -Construction waste. Construction and domestic solid estimated. -Domestic solid waste. waste -Domestic solid waste: approx. 50 kg/day.

During Operation: Input Products -Exhaust gas: 11.373 t/day -HFO 2: 180-300 m3/day -SO : 6.95 t/day -Lubricating oil: 0.66 m3/day 2 -NO : 17.3 t/day -Water for process: 4-6 m3/day Power plant 2 -PM: 0.56 t/day -Water for steam: 3 m3/day -Oil residues: 0.15 m3/day -Engine Air Intake: 11.037 t/day -Wastewater: 0.75-1.1 m3/day

Water Consumption

-Workers : 2-3.5 m3/day -Wastewater : 1.6-2.8 m3/day

Sludge

-Wastewater: -Sludge: 0.23-0.3 m3/day Wastewater Treatment Plant (1.6-2.8 m3/day+0.75-1.1 m3/day) -Water: 2.07-3.5 m3/day

Figure 17: Material Balance Diagram during Construction and Operation Phases.

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4 DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT SURROUNDING THE PROJECT 4.1 Climate The climate of Lebanon is that of the Mediterranean, namely wet and cold in winter, and dry and hot in summer. The rainy season extends from November to April, and is characterized by heavy rains and snowfalls at higher altitudes, while a dry summer season extends from June to September. The following sections discuss the climate parameters including rainfall, temperature and wind, in reference to a thesis done by Mirna El Souri at the Lebanese American University in 2002 (attached in Appendix E). The data presented in the below charts are taken from May 2001 to May 2002. - Rainfall Figure 18 below shows the daily rainfall in Jbeil during May 2001 to May 2002. Rainfall varies during the different months of the year whereby 65 mm was recorded during January 2002. The wet season extends from September till May. Precipitation is zero during June, July and August. The average precipitation during the recorded year is 1,150 mm.

Figure 18: Daily Rainfall in Jbeil during May 2001 to May 2002. - Temperature Figure 19 below shows the daily average temperature fluctuations during May 2001 and May 2002. The temperature varies from 10oC to 30oC along the year in Jbeil. The warm season lasts from June to August and the hottest month of the year is June with an average high of 34oC. The cold season lasts from December to February and the coldest month of the year is January with an average low of 5oC.

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Figure 19: Average Daily Temperature in Jbeil during May 2001 to May 2002. - Wind The wind direction in Jbeil is south to south-west along the year. Figure 20 shows the average daily wind speed recordings in Jbeil during May 2001 and May 2002. The highest wind speed recordings were during January to March reaching 8.5 m/s in February. The lowest wind recordings were during June to November. Figure 21 and Figure 22 present the wind direction with respect to the nearest residential area to the project site.

Figure 20: Average Daily Wind Speed Recordings in Jbeil during May 2001 to May 2002.

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1 km

Wind Direction (S-SW)

Figure 21: Predominant Wind Direction with Respect to Nearest Residential Area.

Wind Direction (S-SW)

Figure 22: Wind Direction (3-D). 45

Environmental Impact Assessment

4.2 Air Quality The project site is a natural carbon sink due to its forested landscape. The project site is prone to fire risks given its green cover. Air quality in the project area has been negatively impacted by the presence of industries and traffic (Figure 23). An operational quarry site exists west of the project site (Figure 24).

Figure 23: Industries Adjacent to the Project Site.

Figure 24: Quarry Site West of the Project Site.

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Baseline air quality levels near the project site were provided by the Ministry of Environment (MoE). Reference: Air quality assessment in an East Mediterranean country: the case of Lebanon, Charbel Abdallah, Antonio Piersanti, Massimo D’Isidoro, Charbel Afif, Nour Masri, Andrea Capppelletti, Gino Briganti, Karine Sartelet, Gaia Righini, Luisella Ciancarella, Gabriele Zanini.

3 1 2 Nearest Baseline Data

Project Site 6 5 4

8 7 9

Figure 25: Cells. Figure 25 shows that the proposed project is located in Cell 5. Table 29 presents annual average air pollutants (NO2, O3, PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and CO) concentrations in different cells. Table 29: Annual Average Air Pollutants Concentrations.

3 3 3 3 3 3 Cell ID NO2 (µg/m ) O3 (µg/m ) PM10 (µg/m ) PM2.5 (µg/m ) SO2 (µg/m ) CO (µg/m ) 1 15.57 88.18 20.23 15.91 12.29 320.17 2 32.74 71.99 23.65 19.83 18.88 624.14 3 17.45 81.80 19.31 16.44 13.10 357.95 4 18.75 85.97 21.06 16.64 14.02 356.92 5 38.44 67.70 24.53 20.74 20.51 753.16 6 18.86 81.33 19.17 16.48 13.69 385.80 7 23.62 82.45 22.18 17.85 17.73 402.60 8 41.13 65.62 23.89 20.40 21.87 832.67 9 20.98 80.57 19.60 17.01 15.04 411.79 4.3 Noise Quality No sources of noise were noted within the project site. Noise in the project area has been negatively impacted by the presence of industries and traffic. As mentioned before, the project site is located in an industrial area and surrounded by industrial facilities.

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The sources of noise in the project area are mainly the industrial activities and the construction works taking place. The project area is not considered noisy since all industries surrounding the project site do not generate high noise levels. Baseline noise levels in the vicinity of the project site were measured to establish baseline conditions/background levels to which the noise levels generated from the construction and operation of the proposed power plant will be compared. Since the project construction hours will be from 7:00 am till 6:00 pm (limited to day time hours), noise- sampling measurements were taken for an average of one (1) hour on the 28th of January 2016 at four (4) different locations to compare to the daytime noise standards of 60-70 dBA according to the project area classification. Measurements were taken from:

 8:00 am to 9:00 am  11:00 am to 12:00 pm  2:00 pm to 3:00 pm  5:00 pm to 6:00 pm The sampling locations are the following (Figure 26):

 North-west of the project site (1).  North-east of the project site (2).  Center of the project site (3).  South of the project site (4). Noise measurements were taken using a BK Precision Model 732A Sound Level Meter every 30 seconds for a period of 1 hour.

1

3 2

4

Figure 26: Noise Sampling Locations. 48

Environmental Impact Assessment

Table 30 presents the summary of the sampling results. Table 30: Noise Sampling Results.

Location Time Results (dBA) Minimum: 48 1 8:00 am to 9:00 am Maximum: 56 Average: 52 Minimum: 50.1 2 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Maximum: 58.6 Average: 54.35 Minimum: 51.3 3 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm Maximum: 56.7 Average: 54 Minimum: 45.1 4 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Maximum: 48.4 Average: 46.75 Sampling results showed that:

 Location 4 has the lowest average noise levels of 46.75 dBA.  Locations 1, 2 and 3 have relatively similar average noise levels of around 53 dBA.  Minimum noise levels recorded range between 45.1 dBA on location 4 to 51.3 dBA on location 3.  Maximum noise levels recorded range between 58.6 dBA on location 2 and 48.4 dBA on location 4.  Baseline conditions at all four locations do not exceed the maximum allowable national standards for noise of 70 dBA; hence, national standards will be taken as baseline conditions at each location. 4.4 Geology The proposed project is situated on the Upper Cenomanian (C4d) formation. The formation mainly consists of marlstone interbedded with bends of limestone (Figure 27), the limestone bends are highly fractured as shown in Figure 28. In general, the subsurface formation of the project is considered as an aquiclude that does not allow for water percolation. However, the fractures in limestone could make it prone to minor leaching especially that this area undergoes heavy rain in the winter period accentuating the leaching effect. In addition, rock fall events were observed in the project vicinity (Figure 29).

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Study Area

Figure 27: Geological Map of Dubertret Showing the Power Plant Location.

Figure 28: Fractured Limestone in the Vicinity of Project Area.

Figure 29: Rock fall. 4.5 Seismology The proposed site is located relatively in a tectonically stable area. The geological map of Dubertret (scale of 1/50000) does not show any major faults in close proximity of the project. This does not exclude the possibility of minor, unmentioned faults. In addition, fractures and joints in the rock should be present in such lithology intensifying the leaching activity especially by the action of water.

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4.6 Topography The proposed power plant is situated on a moderate slope facing north. The highest point of the project area is situated at an elevation of 610 m above sea level while the lowest point is at 560 m above sea level (Figure 30 and Figure 31). The study area has an average slope of 25 % (slope = .

Figure 30: N - S Section of the Topography in the Area of the Proposed Power Plant.

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Figure 31: E - W Section of the Topography in the Area of the Proposed Power Plant.

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4.7 Water Resources Surface Water As shown in Figure 32, the nearest surface water body to the project site is Nahr El Fidar 0.6 km south of the project site. The project site is located in Nahr el Fidar watershed. There are no major surface water bodies north-east of the project site. A nearby well of depth 200 m exists near the project site. Groundwater As mentioned previously, the proposed project is situated on the C4d formation which mainly consists of highly fractured compacted limestone constituting a permeable base for the proposed power plant. Hence, the site is susceptible to leaching. A geotechnical investigation has not been conducted. However, the presence of a nearby well indicates that the groundwater table is below 150 m.

Figure 32: Nahr El Fidar with Respect to the Power Plant.

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Hydrogeological Map: According to the hydrogeological map (Figure 33), the project site is located to the west of the occidental flexure of Lebanon that has a dip towards the west i.e. the groundwater flow direction is towards the Mediterranean sea. Hence, the groundwater flow direction in the project area is towards the west. The power plant lies on the C4d formation composed of marlstone and it is considered as a transition layer to Turonian formation (C5), mainly composed of limestone. The C4d is considered as an aquiclude and therefore any potential contamination will be transmitted as runoff to the nearby formation and will not be infiltrated to the groundwater. No springs are present in the vicinity of the project site; the only spring present in the project area is located around 1 km to the south-east of the site.

Figure 33: Hydrogeological Map for the Proposed Power Plant. 4.8 Biodiversity The project site has a heterogeneous landscape (Figure 34). Visual observation during the site visit conducted on August 27, 2015 revealed the presence of the following trees and floral species:

(Figure 35) (صنوبر بري)  Pinus Brutia (Figure 36) (بلوط لوك)  Quercus Brantii Look (Figure 37) (البالن الشوكي)  Sarcopoterium Spinosum 54

Environmental Impact Assessment

(Figure 38) (ل َزاب)  Juniperus Excelsa (Figure 39) )مريمية(  Salvia Oficinalis (Figure 40) )طرخشقون حلب(  Taraxacum Aleppicum (Figure 41( )بيتا الشائع ماريتيما(  Beta Vulgaris Maritima

Figure 34: Flora in the Project Area.

.(صنوبر بري) Figure 35: Pinus Brutia

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.(بلوط لوك) Figure 36: Quercus Brantii Look

.(البالن الشوكي) Figure 37: Sarcopoterium Spinosum

.(ل َزاب) Figure 38: Juniperus Excelsa

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.)مريمية( Figure 39: Salvia Oficinalis

.)طرخشقون حلب( Figure 40: Taraxacum Aleppicum

.)بيتا الشائع ماريتيما( Figure 41: Beta Vulgaris Maritima 57

Environmental Impact Assessment

During the site visit conducted on August 27 2015, birds or faunal species were not observed. Illegal hunting activities and the presence of nearby factories may have negatively impacted their presence or abundance. The biodiversity survey of the site did not reveal any rare or endangered floral and faunal species. 4.9 Socio-Economic EDJ is not able to meet present or future power demands in Jbeil due to its limited capacity. The insufficient and unstable power supply is damaging household electrical appliances. The insufficiency of power supply lead to the expansion of private power generators, hence local residents are paying two electrical bills. High noise levels and uncontrolled emissions are generated between households from private power generators. Local residents are also suffering from traffic due to trips of diesel trucks around neighborhoods. Nearby universities (LAU Jbeil Campus and AUT University Campus), hospitals (Notre Dame des Secours Hospital and Notre Dame Maritime Hospital) and nearby factories (Liban Cables, etc.) are also suffering from shortage in power supply. The shortage in power supply is limiting the socio-economic growth in Jbeil region (banks, commercial and touristic facilities). The site is a vacant land of low economic value. No signs of traffic are observed in the project area given that the nearest residential area is 1 km west of the project site. However, a nearby residence is located 200 m south-west of the project site. It is important to note that trucks for distributing diesel already use the three roads accessible to the project site (Nahr Ibrahim-Bir El Hait, Jbeil-Annaya and Mastita-Blat). 4.10 Visual Impact The project site is located in the industrial area of Blat and is surrounded with natural trees. The project area includes a combination of trees and industries scattered around with the presence of the Mobile Carrier “Alfa” pole which reduce the overall visual impact of the site. 4.11 Waste Management There are signs of waste littering in the project site from human activities (Figure 42). No signs of wastes are observed from industries surrounding the project site (Figure 43). Likewise, there are no indications of issues pertaining to liquid waste or to wastewater discharge.

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Figure 42: Waste Littering in Project Site.

Figure 43: Waste Bins Surrounding the Project Site. 4.12 Access and Control The project site will be accessible by 3 roads (Figure 44):  Road 1: Nahr Ibrahim-Bir El Hait  Road 2: Jbeil-Annaya  Road 3: Mastita-Blat

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Figure 44: Roads Reaching the Power Plant. Road site observations were done by K & A Transportation team upon a site visit conducted on January 27, 2016 to assess the roads’ conditions leading to the proposed power plant location. The purpose of these observations is to assure the trucks pathways leading to the plant are being in general conformance with the international standards and according to the general conditions applied in Lebanon. The scope of work was intended to determine, if the roads are in general conformance to allow the 10 trucks that are expected to visit the power plant daily can reach it safely. With consideration of the assessment findings and the future site uses/development plans, the following conclusions and recommendations are provided: 1. There is no evidence of major traffic volume concern/impact as a result of the construction of the proposed power plant. 2. The future site redevelopment plans are expected to generate around 10 trucks (20 tons each) or 5 trucks (43.7 tons each) daily round trips. 3. During the construction of the power plant, it would be prudent to include a contingency road plan to the disposal/provision of equipment using Heavy Good Vehicles (HGV) prior to any construction phases of the proposed structures and machines that will be encountered during implementation operations.

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4. It is recommended that trucks coming from the north to use road 2 (Jbeil-Annaya) while those coming from Beirut to use road 1 (Nahr Ibrahim-Bir El Hait). A detailed report including road site observations for the proposed power plant is attached in Appendix G.

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5 Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures This chapter describes the potential environmental impacts that may result from the construction and operation phases of the proposed project. Following the approval of the Environmental Scoping Document (ESD) by the MoE on November 6, 2015, the following parameter will not be addressed in this section due to its negligent impact:

 Historical and Cultural Heritage Impact Classification Method (Magnitude/Importance): In assessing significance, impacts resulting from the project are assessed using the following criteria:  Duration – whether an impact will be temporary (< 1 year), short term (< 5 years), medium term (5 to 10 years), long term (> 10 years), or permanent.  Magnitude – the quantifiable effects of an impact compared to standards (local standards and World Bank guidelines).  Sensitivity of the receiving receptor – how well the sensitive receptor will adapt to the impact.  Frequency – occurrence of an impact.  Reversibility – whether an impact is reversible or irreversible. Taking into consideration these criteria for each parameter, significance levels have been assigned to impacts as shown in Table 31: Table 31: Levels of Significance of Impacts. Value and Sensitivity Low Medium High

High Moderate Moderate/Major Major Medium Minor/ Moderate Moderate Moderate/Major Low Minor Moderate Moderate

Magnitude Negligible Minor/No Importance Minor/ Moderate Minor/ Moderate

The levels of significance have been evaluated using the following formula: Significance of Effect = Magnitude of Impact x Value & Sensitivity of Receptor Impacts were classified based on Decision 261/1/2015, as shown in Table 32. Table 32: Impact Classification. Impacts Classification Description N (Nature) P (positive), N (negative); D (direct), I (indirect) M (Magnitude) L (low), M (moderate), H (high) E (Extent) L (local), G (global) T (Timing) S (short-term), M (medium-term), L (long-term) D (Duration) C (during construction), O (during operation) R (Reversibility) R (reversible), I (irreversible) L (Likelihood of Occurrence) L (low), M (moderate), H (high) S (Significance) L (low), M (moderate), H (high) 62

Environmental Impact Assessment

5.1 Geology 5.1.1 Impacts during Construction Phase Since the proposed project is situated on the C4d formation, consisting mainly of highly fractured compacted limestone, fractures in the limestone could make it prone to leaching. In general, the subsurface formation of the project site is considered as an aquiclude that does not allow for water percolation. There are no current major signs of instability in the project area; it is unlikely that rock-fall incidents may occur during construction activities (excavation, drilling, etc.). 5.1.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase The following mitigation measures are proposed during the construction phase:

 Properly implement the adopted CEMP.  Controlling fuel spillage through storage of used fuels in tight sealed tanks.  Used oil, oil filters and oily rags shall be stored in leak-proof drums and delivered to local contractors.  Construction of temporary channels to control water runoff and direct it into a nearby retention basin. 5.1.3 Impacts during Operation Phase Usually during oil delivery, oil spills may occur during fuel filling by fuel supply tankers, whereby oil spills may leach into the geological formation. However, the proposed power plant will be paved and lined with impervious material which will prevent any leaching into geological formation. 5.1.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase The following mitigation measures are proposed during the operation phase:

 Oil storage tanks shall be made of thick carbon treated steel, hydro tested and enclosed inside concrete walls, thus any oil spill will be contained.  Drains of the containment area should be connected to the on-site oil-water separator and then to the on-site WWTP for treatment. 5.2 Water Resources 5.2.1 Impacts during Construction Phase Water is typically used to control dust emissions generated from construction activities (excavation, drilling, etc.). Construction activities may have an adverse impact on groundwater resources due to potential spillage of fuels/lubricants from construction machinery and vehicles. The construction of the proposed power plant will involve the use of relatively small quantities of water. On an average, less than 10 m3/day of water will be required during the construction period. Water used during construction will be supplied by water tankers and the nearby existing well.

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The main possible impacts of construction works on groundwater during the construction phase are the following:  Possible contamination of groundwater resources with fuels and lubricants from construction machinery and vehicles due to on-site accidental oil spills or leaks.  Increase of surface water runoff during rainstorms due to soil disturbance and excavation works. However, accidental spills are unlikely to occur with a properly implemented Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) and with appropriate preventive measures. Impacts are expected to be minimal and short term. 5.2.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase During the construction phase, the following mitigation measures for the control of potential environmental impacts on water resources are recommended:

 Properly implement the adopted CEMP.  In case of accidental spills, apply proper cleanup measures and/or excavation.  Protection of the existing nearby well against dumping of construction wastes.  Controlling fuel spillage through storage of used fuels in tight sealed tanks.  Used oil, oil filters and oily rags will be stored in leak-proof drums and delivered to local contractors for the reuse of used oil in power and heat generation.  Construction of temporary channels to control water runoff and direct it into a retention basin.  The water supply used for construction activities must be monitored to ensure that it does not adversely affect other water uses in the area. 5.2.3 Impacts during Operation Phase Water during the operation phase will be supplied by water tankers and the nearby existing well. A map showing the water network and the location of the well is attached in Appendix H. Oil leaks or oil spills from fuel loading or oil storage tanks during the operation phase may contaminate groundwater resources. The operation of the proposed power plant will involve the use of relatively low quantities of water as follows:  An estimate of 9 m3/day of water will be used in power plant processes as follows: o Operation processes: 4-6 m3/day. o Steam consumption: 3 m3/day. o No evaporation will take place in the radiators.

 The daily domestic water consumption is estimated at 9 m3/day as follows: o Water consumed by workers: 2-3.5 m3/day. o Cleaning activities: 3-5.5 m3/day. Hence, impacts on existing water resources during the operation phase are expected to be insignificant.

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5.2.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase During the operation phase, the following mitigation measures are recommended:

 Water-saving sanitary fixtures to be utilized including flow-restricted faucets with spray heads that turn off automatically, low flow dual flush WCs, sensor operated mixers and flush valves.  Sanitary drainage shall be collected from toilets to discharge into the on-site WWTP.  A drip irrigation system shall be used for landscaping activities to control the use of water.  Direct spills to the storm water network.  Oil storage tanks will be made of thick carbon treated steel and hydro tested.  Oil storage tanks will be enclosed inside concrete walls.  Storm water runoff will be directed to oil-water separator and WWTP.  In order to minimize groundwater contamination from any small oil spill, absorb the oil spill with sand or earth material. Easily accessible spill kits should be provided on-site (absorbent material).  In the case of a large oil spill, prevent the oil spill from spreading by making a barrier with sand, earth or other containment material. Inform local authorities if impacts cannot be contained. 5.3 Wastewater 5.3.1 Impacts during Construction Phase Minimal amounts of wastewater will be generated from construction activities and by workers during the construction phase. 5.3.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase

 Install on-site portable toilet facilities with holding tanks to be emptied periodically by a licensed Contractor (to empty it in the municipal sewerage network). 5.3.3 Impacts during Operation Phase Wastewater generated from the proposed power plant during the operation phase will result from the following activities: • Oil spills from fuel supply tankers during oil delivery. • Chemical cleaning of boilers and equipment. • Oily water produced from fuel oil and lubricating oil separators. • Domestic wastewater. 5.3.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase

 Ensure that, at purchase, the fuel tanks are new and appropriate for storage by getting related documents (certificate) from the manufacturing company.  Conduct yearly tests on fuel tank leakage, starting from the fifth year of purchase (according to the Lebanese decision 5/1 (12/01/2001)).  Record keeping of leakage test reports.

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 Fuel storage tanks will have secondary containment to contain any spills. Drains will be routed to the on-site oil-water separator.  Use insulating waterproof material for painting the fuel tank walls to prevent leakages.  Fuel storage tanks should be cleaned from fuel deposits/residues when needed.  Testing for pressure resistance should be done yearly to ensure the absence of any leakage.  Fuel storage tanks should be placed in a containment area where the ground is paved and lined with impervious material.  Fuel storage tanks should be fitted with valves that automatically stop the flow of fuel in the event of any accidental disconnections.  Fuel storage tanks should be equipped with level detectors capable of alerting on-site workers to potential leaks and accidental overfilling of the storage tanks.  Drains of the containment area should be connected to the oil-water separator, but should be equipped with remote shut-off valves so that a large oil leak or spill could be retained.  Underground piping should be protected from corrosion and damage due to surface loads.  Use environmentally friendly cleaning products such as Petro-Clean and degreasers such as Nature’s Way K-Gold (the MSDS of Petro-Clean and Nature’s Way K-Gold are shown in Appendix I).  Reduce the amount of cleaning products used.  Direct discharge of untreated wastewater will be prohibited. An on-site WWTP will be installed. Wastewater Treatment Plant During the operation phase, wastewater generated by workers should be separated from wastewater generated from power plant processes. a- The wastewater generated by workers is estimated to be 2.8 m3/day. Wastewater should be collected in a closed septic tank of capacity 4 m3 for pretreatment that should be emptied once a week or as needed before reaching its capacity, pumped out and then sent to the municipality. The municipality will dispose the wastewater into the municipal sewerage network. b- Wastewater will be generated from power plant processes (0.75-1.1 m3/day), cleaning activities (4.4 m3/day) and storm water. The generated wastewater will contain oil residues present in oily water, and suspended solids and residues from cleaning products.

 Wastewater should be first conveyed to an oil-water separator (refer to Appendix H) of maximum flow rate 750 l/h and capacity 12 m3/day, whereby oil floats to the surface and water remains at the bottom (because of the difference in density). When the oil level reaches the outlet opening, it is then collected in containers and sent to licensed oil recycling facilities.  Wastewater should be conveyed to an on-site WWTP (refer to Appendix H). The proposed WWTP can treat up to 20 m³/day of wastewater with a BOD5 load of 8.1 kg/day. Wastewater will first enter the settlement tank for preliminary clarification, then passes to the second settlement tank whereby sludge is separated from the treated wastewater and settles at the bottom of the chamber. It then reaches the

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equalizing tank. Wastewater then enters into a biological tank for biological treatment and finally reaches the clarification tank. Based on the sized inflow (0.75-1.1 m3/day), the total amount of sludge produced is approximately 0.23-0.3 m3/day. The sludge generated from the WWTP shall be emptied from the system once every 4-6 months dried on-site and sent by a specialized Contractor to a licensed landfill.  The treated effluent will be used for cleaning/irrigation activities.

 After treatment, the Operator shall conduct yearly sampling to test the quality of the treated wastewater effluent. The proposed WWTP will meet the standard requirements of the German DIN 4261-T2, European Norm EN 12566-3 and French agreement 2011-002. The WWTP will consist of the following compartments:  Three (3) settlement tanks  One (1) biological tank  One (1) clarifier tank  One (1) air compressor  One (1) return sludge pump  One (1) control panel  One (1) equalizing pump Maps showing the location of the closed septic tank, the WWTP and the storm water drainage system directed to the WWTP will be provided at a later stage. 5.4 Biodiversity 5.4.1 Impacts during Construction Phase During the construction phase, the following potential impacts are expected:

 Loss of a number of mature trees in the project site: (صنوبر بري) o Pinus Brutia (بلوط لوك) o Quercus Brantii Look (البالن الشوكي) o Sarcopoterium Spinosum (ل َزاب) o Juniperus Excelsa )مريمية( o Salvia Oficinalis )طرخشقون حلب( o Taraxacum Aleppicum )بيتا الشائع ماريتيما( o Beta Vulgaris Maritima o The surface coverage of the proposed power plant will be 29,000 m2. At an average occupation of 20 m2 per tree, it is estimated that about 1,500 trees will be removed from the project site.  Temporary and permanent migration of faunal species due to construction activities in the project site.  Habitat fragmentation and loss.

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5.4.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase • Maintain as much native trees as possible (almost 60% of total trees on-site). • Landscaping and plantation plans (an estimate of 3,000 trees over a period of 3 years will be planted (1,000/ year)). • Compensate removed trees according to Ministry of Agriculture guidelines and in coordination with the MoE. 5.4.3 Impacts during Operation Phase Since the proposed power plant will have air emissions dispersed into the atmosphere, this will have downwind effects on the species and habitats existing on-site and surrounding the project site. 5.4.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase

 Maintain power plant emissions to comply with World Bank guidelines.  Load shedding during idle time to reduce air emissions. 5.5 Soil 5.5.1 Impacts during Construction Phase During the construction phase, the following potential impacts are expected:  Soil disturbance due to excavation and compaction works.  Increase in soil erosion due to land clearance activities.  Estimated excavation volumes: 50,000 m3. 5.5.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase

 Use excavated volumes as fill material: 50,000 m3. This will provide a balance and eliminate the piling of excess materials.  Use well-maintained construction equipment to avoid any leaks or spills.  Control the use of heavy machinery to prevent the movement of soil material. A map showing the location of the cut and fill materials and the proposed terraces/retaining walls will be provided at a later stage. 5.5.3 Impacts during Operation Phase During the operation phase, the following potential impacts are expected:

 Leakage of oil storage tanks or accidental oil spills.  Downwind effects on soils from emissions. 5.5.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase

 Paved areas will reduce any direct contamination of soil.  Oil storage tanks will be made of thick carbon treated steel and hydro tested.  Oil storage tanks will be enclosed inside concrete walls.  Load shedding during idle time.

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 In order to minimize soil contamination from any small oil spill, absorb the oil spill with sand or earth material.  In the case of a large oil spill, prevent the oil spill from spreading by making a barrier with sand, earth or other containment material. Inform local authorities if impacts cannot be contained. 5.6 Air Quality 5.6.1 Impacts during Construction Phase Construction works of the power plant might result in minor negative impacts on air quality. Two power generators (400 kVA and 200 kVA) will be used on-site. Potential sources of impact on air quality include dust emissions generated from construction activities (excavation, digging, etc.) and combustion fuel pollutants: Dust Emissions Particulate matter (PM) must be considered due to its threat on workers’ health, during construction activities that generate considerable quantities of dust. PM is generated from excavation works, backfilling, or even soil and material transport, maneuvering and stockpiling. Other sources such as erection works, finishing, etc. can also generate PM, but usually to a lesser extent. Fuel Combustion Pollutants Fuel combustion pollutants (PM, NOx, SOx and CO) are mainly emitted from exhaust fumes of vehicles, trucks, heavy machinery, equipment, power generators, etc. during the construction phase. These polluting sources will be present for the duration of the construction phase and will therefore be temporary in nature. 5.6.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase The following mitigation measures are recommended:

 Abiding by the CEMP.  Regular watering around the project site and on exposed construction areas especially in dry weather to reduce dust dispersion.  Covering on-site trucks during transport and stockpiles.  Developing a schedule for working hours.  On-site power generators and equipment should be equipped with exhaust cyclone filters.  Turn-off machinery and power generators during idle time.  Regular maintenance of power generators and construction machinery.  Concrete batching plants should be equipped with exhaust cyclone filters to control PM emissions. 5.6.3 Impacts during Operation Phase During the operation phase, engine stacks are the main source of air pollution whereby sulfur dioxide

(SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and particulate matter (PM) are released.

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Unburned hydrocarbons and NOx may be released from the power plant stacks and contribute in atmospheric reactions to form ground-level ozone in the presence of sunlight. Petroleum vapors are also released during fuel loading of oil storage tanks in addition to the exhaust emissions (PM, NOx, SOx and CO) released by fuel loading trucks. An HVAC system will be installed in the power plant. Maps related to the HVAC system will be provided at a later stage. 5.6.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase During the operation phase, the following mitigation measures are proposed:

 SO2 emissions can be controlled by limiting the sulfur content of heavy fuel oil.  NOx emissions can be controlled through burner management.  Particulate emissions can be reduced through good combustion control to minimize the products of incomplete combustion.  A traffic management plan should be implemented, whereby alternative transportation methods should be encouraged, low emitting & fuel efficient vehicles should be provided by dedicating special parking spaces for them.  Regular maintenance of on-site power engines.  Periodic inspection and monitoring of valves of fuel tank ventilation pipes to ensure proper operation.  A third party accredited firm should be responsible for annual testing of air emissions and Environmental Auditing to confirm compliance with World Bank guidelines.  Implement schedule of maintenance of power engines.  Load shedding during idle time to reduce generation of air emissions.  Abide by the ASHRAE standards for HVAC systems. Indoor Air Quality:

 Proper Ventilation (natural or mechanical) according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in Standard #62-1989 whereby the following measures are recommended:  A minimum of 15 cfm (cubic feet per minute) of outdoor air per person for offices.  20 cfm per person for general office space.  50-100 cfm for kitchens.  25-50 cfm for toilets (due to bacteria).  1.5 cfm per ft2 for garages.  For comfort, the power plant indoor spaces will be appropriately ventilated and maintained under positive pressure with respect to outdoors by around 10% of the total supplied fresh air. Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) The proposed power plant will have a Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) to provide continuous record of exhaust gas emissions released from the power plant stack over an extended and uninterrupted period of time. These records will be conveyed to the MoE regularly. 70

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The concentration of pollutants in the gas stream will be first measured. Pollutant concentrations are obtained by dividing the amount of pollutant collected during the test by the volume of the sample. Once the pollutant concentration is known, emission rates are obtained by multiplying the pollutant concentration by the volumetric stack gas flow rate. The system is used for various analysis of the exhaust gas from the engines. Certified and calibrated probes and sensors are placed in the stacks. The rest emission measurement equipment will be placed in a container adjacent to the stacks. The system is provided with output for remote indication and reporting of measured values. Furthermore a common alarm and visualization of parameters is connected to the plant distributed control system room (DCS). Gaseous components are monitored continuously for each unit by individual extractive system analyzers for each flue pipe.

The equipment is designed for measurement of NO, NO2, SO2, CO, CO2, H2O, O2 and dust particles. Opacity meters are provided for monitoring of the particulates in exhaust gases before outlet of the stack. The measuring equipment is provided with purge air fans to avoid overheating. The fans are acting as a duty/standby set. The fans are controlled by the DCS. A fan will start at engine start and will be in operation whenever the engine is running or in case of high temperature in the stack. In case of operating failure and as back-up a connection to the control air system is provided with a solenoid valve controlled by the DCS. Air Dispersion Model Air Dispersion Modeling has been conducted to forecast the impact of air emissions on national ambient air quality limits. CALPUFF )one of U.S. EPA’s preferred air dispersion models( and climatic data )2010- 2014) for Beirut/Tripoli were used in this modeling. The results of the modeling will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment as soon as they become available. 5.7 Noise 5.7.1 Impacts during Construction Phase During the construction period, it is expected that the sources of noise pollution will be the excavation works, erection of the power plant, as well as some other related construction activities. Increased construction vehicle traffic on and off of the site will be another source of nuisance. According to national noise standards, the project zone is classified as an “Industrial Area”, hence noise levels should be between 60-70 dBA during daytime. The construction works will make up a significant noise source despite its limited duration. Excessive noise levels will be produced due to excavation works, machinery operation on-site or movement of material transport trucks and on-site power generators. Effects of noise and vibration levels are only temporary since they end with the project completion. The average noise level during construction is commonly generated from construction machinery, equipment and vehicles, where it is expected to exceed 70 dBA. However, factors which affect noise 71

Environmental Impact Assessment levels include distance from the noise source, natural or man-made barriers between source and the affected target, weather conditions, wind speed and direction. Construction activities generally generate noise levels higher than the typical levels prevailing in the project area. Table 33 shows typical noise levels at construction sites generated during different construction activities or phases. Table 33: Typical noise Levels at Construction Sites. Phase Leq (dBA) Ground Cleaning 84 Excavation 88 Foundation 88 Erection 79 Finishing 84 As shown in the above table, the highest noise levels could be produced during excavation activities (88 dBA). Noise levels from construction activities will be short-term and moderate after control measures are applied on equipment and machineries. 5.7.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase During the construction phase, the contractor should implement the following mitigation measures:

 Use low noise and well-maintained machinery.  Operate noisy machinery during regular working hours.  Based on Wärtsilä design, the noise level at the project site will be 70 dBA at 100 m from the edge of the power house or cooling equipment.  Ensure that combustion engines are in good condition and work effectively.  All compressors, power generators and pumps should be silent models fitted with properly lined and sealed acoustic covers or enclosures, which should be kept closed whenever the machines are in use.  All machines in intermittent use should be shut down in the intervening periods between work, or throttled down to a minimum, and noise emitting equipment which is required to run continuously should be housed in a suitable acoustic enclosure.  A schedule for working hours should be developed and vehicles should be passed in order to limit noise disruption. • Turn off machinery when idle. • Provide ear plugs to on-site workers. • Establish noise barriers (fence, etc.) upon complaints. 5.7.3 Impacts during Operation Phase Noise will be generated mainly from the on-site power engines and fans. The passage of trucks to and out of the project site will also produce noise impacts. Noise impacts during the operation phase will be high, mitigation measures should be adopted to ensure that noise levels do not exceed the allowable limit. 72

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5.7.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase During the operation phase, the following mitigation measures should be implemented:

 Equip on-site exhaust power engines with silencers.  Consider the use of noise control techniques:  Use acoustic machine enclosures.  Use mufflers or silencers in intake and exhaust channels.  Use sound absorptive materials in walls and ceilings.  Use vibration isolators and flexible connections (helical steel springs and rubber elements, etc.).  Noise emissions (based on Wärtsilä design) will be 70 dBA at 100 m from the edge of the power house or cooling equipment.  Implement schedule of maintenance to maintain power engines and power plant equipment in good and efficient working order.  Lower speed limit inside power plant to reduce noise of trucks passage.  Comply with noise standards set by the MoE decision 52/1/96 (Table 34).

Table 34: Noise Limits (Decision 52/1/96).

Limit for Noise Level (dBA) Region Type Day Time Evening Time Night Time (7 am till 6 pm) (6pm till 10 pm) (10 pm till 7 am) Industrial Areas 60-70 55-65 50-60 5.8 Visual Quality 5.8.1 Impacts during Construction Phase The construction of the power plant may result in temporary visual intrusion impacts for close residential areas due to the removal of natural grounds and generated dust emissions, soil erosion disturbance, and the presence of construction material and trucks on the road. The project site will be fenced and construction works will only be conducted during the daytime. Therefore, impacts during construction will be minor and short term. 5.8.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase Since the project site will be fenced, no mitigation measures are needed during the construction phase. 5.8.3 Impacts during Operation Phase The potential impacts generated during the operation phase: • 1 cluster of 7 stacks (height: 40 m) will be seen from the surroundings. • It is expected that a transparent smoke will be released from the stacks (Figure 45).

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Power Plant

Figure 45: Proposed Power Plant. 5.8.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase • Maintenance of power engines (amount of oil to be combusted) to ensure transparent smoke. • Landscaping around the project site (Figure 46).

Figure 46: 3-D Layout of Proposed Power Plant. 5.9 Solid Waste Management 5.9.1 Impacts during Construction Phase The project is expected to generate construction waste such as steel, timber, concrete, etc. due to construction activities. The project site’s area is around 29,000 m2, the excavation work’s depth is 1.8 m 74

Environmental Impact Assessment and the cut materials are estimated at 50,000 m3. The excavation material generated from the proposed project will be handled by the contractor and can be used in construction services. Other types of wastes will be reused on-site, recycled, or disposed properly. However, best practice management will be applied by the Contractor to ensure that reusable and recyclable wastes will be appropriately reused, recycled or properly disposed; no wastes will be dumped near project perimeters, etc. Therefore, short- term and minimal waste impact is expected to result from the project construction. 5.9.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase

 Designated containers will be provided for the storage of construction wastes (reuse and recycle of timber, metals, etc.).  Regular clean-up of containers should be done. 5.9.3 Impacts during Operation Phase The proposed power plant will generate different types of wastes such as:  Sludge from oil separators/WWTP.  Oil residues from oil interceptor.  Domestic solid waste. 5.9.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase

 Management (reuse) of accumulated sludge from oil separator. Dewatered sludge will be disposed in a licensed landfill.  Management (reuse) of oil residues from oil interceptor. Oil residues will be collected by a contractor for reuse in power/heat generation.  Domestic waste separation at source (reuse and recycling).  A recycling program shall be employed to ensure that all recyclable materials are placed in a recycling stream. 5.10 Energy and Natural Resources 5.10.1 Impacts during Construction Phase A relatively low quantity of raw materials will be required for the construction of the proposed power plant. The quantity of concrete needed is estimated to be 318-350 m3. Other quantities of raw materials are as follows:  Gravel: 254.4-280 m3  Sand: 127.2-140 m3  Cement: 111.3-122.5 m3 Impacts on natural resources are low negative since low quantities of construction material are needed and this cannot be mitigated. As for energy use, power from EDJ and two (2) power generators (400 kVA and 200 kVA) will be present on-site for electrical power needs on-site. Hence energy use during the construction phase is short term and minimal. 75

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5.10.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase During the construction phase, the following mitigation measures are recommended:

 Turn off power generators during idle time.  Periodic maintenance of power generators and construction equipment. 5.10.3 Impacts during Operation Phase The estimated daily power consumption of the power plant during the operation phase will be approximately 24,000 KWh/day. The following natural resources will be used in the operation phase:

 Heavy fuel oil Grade B: 10 tons/hr.  Lubricant oil: 100 tons/year. 5.10.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase During the operation phase, the following mitigation measures are recommended:

 Use efficient internal lighting to reduce power plant consumption, such as T5 lamps instead of T8 lamps for fluorescent fixtures.  Prevent using halogen and incandescent lighting.  Setting signs to remind workers to turn off lights in vacated rooms.  Load shedding during idle time to reduce consumption of HFO.  Consider the use of PV panels for sustainable power generation. 5.11 Traffic and Access 5.11.1 Impacts during Construction Phase The construction of the power plant may result in a short term increase in traffic due to heavy equipment and trucks coming in and out of the construction site. Impacts on traffic will be minor negative and limited to the construction period. Nonetheless, proper mitigation measures will be needed for that period. 5.11.2 Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase During the construction phase, the following mitigation measures are recommended:

 Avoiding trips of trucks during rush hour.  Using signs, reflectors and guardrails.  Ensuring that the entrance road to the project site is never blocked.  Use alternative routes for truck management. 5.11.3 Impacts during Operation Phase During the operation phase, the power plant will have three roads:  Nahr Ibrahim-Bir El Hait south-east of the site.  Jbeil-Annaya north-east of the site. 76

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 Mastita-Blat west of the site. This will minimize traffic caused by trucks accessing and exiting the site. 10 trucks (20 tons each) or 5 trucks (43.7 tons each) will access the project site leading to low long term traffic impacts. Accidental oil spills from heavy trucks may lead to traffic disruption; however this impact is unlikely to occur. Vehicular traffic may be also caused by workers entering and exiting the site. The power plant will minimize traffic caused by trucks delivering fuel in Jbeil area, which is considered a positive impact. 5.11.4 Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase During the operation phase, the following mitigation measures are proposed:

 Providing parking spaces for 60 workers.  Encourage carpooling.  The use of the 3 alternative roads will minimize traffic impact.  Coordinate with Blat municipality on the timing of truck passage as needed. 5.12 Socio-Economic 5.12.1 Impacts during Construction Phase The construction phase will allow for work opportunities for civil workers, technical consultants/contractors and civil works contractors. 150 workers and 5 engineers will be needed for construction as well as large supplies of construction raw materials that will boost the local economy. Therefore, the potential socio-economic impact of the project during construction is expected to be highly positive. On the other hand, the extraction of gravel and the consequent reduction in natural resources in the area is considered a negative economic impact. 5.12.2 Impacts during Operation Phase The potential socio-economic impacts of the project once it becomes operational are highly positive. 60 workers (3 shifts), 2 engineers and 1 manager will be needed for the operation of the proposed power plant. The power plant will have low impact on the price of surrounding lands. The power plant will boost the economic profile of Jbeil region by providing sufficient energy demands and will lower the power service fees by 37% (this percentage is based on HFO price per ton). This will eliminate the need for private power generators. In addition, Jbeil region will attract new investors due to electricity availability (basic element for growth). The power plant will lead to negative impacts regarding private power generators. Around 300 owners of power generators will lose their jobs.

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5.13 Health and Safety 5.13.1 Impacts and Mitigation Measures during Construction Phase The construction phase may result in high risks of accidents relating to any of the construction activities that may have human health and safety effects for on-site workers. A health and safety management plan should be developed by the Contractor and implemented during the project construction. It shall include the following: 1. Training: All personnel involved in construction works shall receive a thorough safety orientation prior to commencing work that involves safety requirements, first aid arrangements, use of protective equipment, unsafe and safe work practices, attendance of safety meetings, etc. 2. Safety Inspections: The Safety Officer shall make regular safety inspections of the work site and report details of all breaches of the safety plan. 3. Hazardous Substances: Hazardous materials shall be stored in safety containers and handled in a manner as specified by the manufacturer and/or as prescribed by the relevant authorities. 4. Potential Hazards: All employees shall be informed of potential hazards and prepared for emergency situations. 5. Accident Reporting: All accidents shall be reported. Rectification works shall be immediately carried out. If this cannot be done, temporary barriers and appropriate warning signs shall be installed until rectification is completed. 6. Signs: All notices and signs related to safety and health shall be clearly displayed at appropriate visible locations. 7. First Aid and Medical Attention: A comprehensive first aid kit (s) shall be available on-site at all times. Employees trained on the first aid kit shall be available on-site at all times. Special arrangements shall be set out for calling a Doctor and transporting injured persons to the hospital. The emergency service numbers and names, including the nearest hospital and Doctor, shall be prominently displayed in the first aid room and site offices. 8. Personnel Safety Equipment: All personnel involved in construction activities shall be provided with adequate protection devices including safety helmets and shoes, safety goggles or face shields when performing activities which may produce dust, sparks or flying particles, protective gloves when working with sharp material. 9. Fire Protection and Prevention: Highly combustible materials shall be stored separately from other materials and shall be protected and not exposed to open flames or any other situation which could result in a fire risk. An adequate number of fire extinguishers of suitable types shall be available at all times in adequate, accessible and well-marked locations throughout the site. 10. Scaffolding: All scaffolding and/or temporary works shall be inspected after erection and before access, loading or use is allowed. Completed and approved scaffolding or temporary works shall be tagged with a green tag and red tags for rejected works. The tags shall be installed in visible locations. 11. Towers and Cranes: All mobile towers and cranes shall be erected in full compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

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12. Elevated Works: All personnel working at elevated positions shall be provided with adequate protection from falls such as mobile elevating work platforms, hoists or suspended cradles, handrails or guardrails. 13. Confined Spaces: Confined spaces are identified as tanks, containers, shafts and other similar enclosures. Prior to entering the confined space, the area shall be completely isolated to prevent entry of any hazardous materials which could cause oxygen deficient atmosphere. Equipment to be used shall be inspected for acceptability and a qualified attendant shall be present at all times while persons are working within confined spaces. 5.13.2 Impacts and Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase During the operation phase, workers should be instructed and trained for the proper use of all power plant equipment used for operational processes, location and handling of fire extinguishers, and the use of personal protective equipment (high visibility vest, gloves, safety footwear, safety helmet, goggles etc.). A health & safety plan should be developed and abided by during the operation phase. Table 35 presents the PPE required for the protection of workers against on-site safety hazards. Table 35: Personal Protective Equipment. Protection for Equipment Protection against Leather gloves Cuts during material handling Asbestos gloves Heat radiation Hands Electrical resistance gloves Electrical shock Canvas gloves Contact with oil & grease Hand sleeves Falling of hot slag Leg-guards Welding sparks Legs Leather safety boots Stepping on sharp/hot objects, fall of objects Spectacle type goggles with plain shatter Foreign bodies entering the eyes and reflected Eyes proof lens arc rays Fall of objects during construction and Head Fiber helmet maintenance Ears Ear plugs or muffs High noise levels Nose Dust protection mask Fine dust particles

All easily accessible moving parts in the plant will be securely fenced to ensure workers safety in the power plant. In addition, all working places will have safe means of access and exit. Occupational health and safety training programs for on-site workers mainly include the following:  General area safety  Specific job safety  General electrical safety  Handling of hazardous materials  Entry into confined spaces  Repetitive stress disorders  Use of personal protective equipment  First-aid

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Workers may encounter safety hazards in the power plant which include the following: 1. Non-ionizing radiation 2. Heat and humidity 3. Noise hazards 4. Electrical Hazards 5. Fire and explosions hazards 6. Chemical hazards 7. Dust 8. Health hazards Non-ionizing radiation Workers may be exposed to electric and magnetic fields (EMF) when working in proximity to electric power generators and equipment. An EMF safety program shall include the following:  Training of workers in the identification of occupational EMF levels and hazards.  Establishment and identification of safety zones to differentiate between work areas with expected elevated EMF levels compared to those acceptable for public exposure, limiting access to properly trained workers.  Implement action plans such as limiting exposure time through work rotation, increasing the distance between the source and the worker, or the use of shielding materials. Heat and Humidity Workers may be exposed to heat during operation and maintenance of combustion units, pipes, and related hot equipment. Recommended prevention and control measures include:

 Steam pipes shall be provided with thermal insulation.  Regular inspection and maintenance of pressure vessels and piping.  Provision of adequate ventilation in work areas to reduce heat and humidity.  Reducing the time required for work in elevated temperature environments and ensuring access to drinking water.  Shielding surfaces where workers come in close contact with hot equipment, including generating equipment, pipes.  Use of warning signs near high temperature surfaces and personal protective equipment (PPE) as appropriate, including insulated gloves and shoes. Noise Noise sources during the operation phase include:

 Boilers and auxiliaries (pulverizers)  Diesel engines  Fans and ductwork  Pumps  Condensers  Piping and valves

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The following measures are recommended to prevent, minimize, and control noise hazards include:

 Provision of sound-insulated control rooms with noise levels below 60 dBA.  The noise level around the generators or other equipment should be kept lower than 90 dBA. If impossible, workers near the equipment shall have an insulated room where the noise level is below 75 dBA.  Workers shall be supplied with ear protection to be worn when working around the equipment.  Good maintenance of equipment will also help to reduce noise levels in the work area.  Identify and mark high noise areas and require that personal noise protecting gear is used all the time when working in such high noise areas. Electrical Hazards Energized equipment and power lines can pose electrical hazards for workers. The following measures are recommended to prevent, minimize, and control electrical hazards include:

 Electrical equipment will be grounded and checked for defective insulation.  Use of voltage sensors prior to and during workers' entrance into enclosures containing electrical components.  Provision of specialized electrical safety training to workers working with or around exposed components of electric circuits.  This training should include proper safe work procedures, hazard awareness and identification, proper use of PPE, first aid and proper rescue procedures. Fire and Explosion Hazards Workers may encounter fire and explosion hazards during the operation phase. The following measures are recommended to prevent, minimize, and control fire and explosion hazards include:

 Proper maintenance of boiler safety controls.  Use of automated systems such as temperature gauges or carbon monoxide sensors to survey solid fuel storage areas to detect fires caused by self-ignition and to identify risk points.  A program for fire safety will be regularly carried out.  Provide a suitable means of escape in case of fire which must be free from obstruction at all times.  Fire evacuation procedures must be briefed to all on-site workers through the site induction.  A fire evacuation drill should be carried out at least once a year.  Fire-fighting equipment and fire water storage reserve should be available at marked places around the project site.  Careful handling of equipment to prevent fire and explosion risks.  A fire detection and alarm system shall be implemented including smoke and heat detectors, manual call points, standpipes, hose reels, automatic sprinklers system, portable fire extinguishers, etc.

A map showing the location of the fire extinguishers will be provided at a later stage.

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Housekeeping:

 Good sanitary and washing facilities should be provided in the power plant.  A separate lunch room should be provided outside the work area.  Housekeeping and cleaning activities will include keeping all walkways clear of debris, cleaning up oil spots as soon as they are noticed, and regularly inspecting and maintaining all equipment and machinery.  Workers responsible for cleaning boilers will be provided with special footwear, masks and dust- proof clothing. The cleaning of boilers may require the use of corrosive acids such as sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid as well as caustic chemicals. The workers using these chemicals will wear protective clothing and goggles. Emergency eyewash and showers will be available in the working area.  Maintenance workers who enter enclosed areas for cleaning oil residues will wear self- contained air respirators.  An on-site first aid facility (with qualified nurse) should be provided to ensure the safety of all workers. RECORD KEEPING Record keeping should be done to record all accidents occurring on-site. Accident records should mainly include the following:  Project name and site.  Date and time.  Accident type and description.  Main cause of the accident.  Root causes and corrective actions taken.  Responsible person for corrective actions.  Estimated cost of the accident.  Signed report with photographs if available. In the occurrence of any accident on-site, the following measures should be done:  Workers should immediately take control of the casualty at the site of accident.  Clear the site of accident.  Prevent the gathering of workers around the casualty.  Call for the nearest ambulance/hospital immediately.  Emergency contact Information must be posted visibly around the project site, and communicated to all workers (contact name, telephone number, ambulance, nearest hospital (Notre Dame Maritime Hospital (3.5 km north-west of the project site) or Notre Dame des Secours Hospital (3.7 km north-west of the project site), etc.).

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6 Maintenance BWSC (operator) shall be in charge of maintenance. General routine maintenance can be done by operating personnel while the engine is in operation. Extended maintenance measures may require that the engine is shut down, drained and/or depressurized. Periodic testing and reporting of emissions and filters should be done according to MoE requirements. The Schedule of Maintenance is attached in Appendix J. The oil change interval depends on the lubricating oil quality, fuel oil quality, operating conditions and engine condition. The need for cooler and filter cleaning is evaluated by measuring the pressure drop over the devices. Maintenance of standby engines: standby engines which are to be kept ready for start-up at short notice must be regularly operated. The engines should be test run once a week.

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7 Public Participation A public hearing session for the Power Plant project was conducted in the scoping phase on the 7th of October 2015 at 11:00 am in Mar Abda Church-Blat. A second public hearing session was not conducted. The Client has conducted a door-to-door survey on 2,001 households. The survey is attached in Appendix K. Two (2) main questions were targeted: If people received the CD prepared by Byblos Advanced Energy (the Client) and whether they are with or against the proposed project. The main important comments include:  Concerns regarding the negative environmental impacts generated from the power plant.  Concerns if the New Power Plant will be similar to Zouk Power Plant.  Whether regular maintenance will be done for the power plant filters.  Concerns regarding the increase in the price of electricity services. Table 36 presents the results of the door-to-door survey: Table 36: Survey Results. Did not Answer With the Project Against the Project Uncertain the Survey Number of 1,117 154 127 603 Households

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8 Analysis of Alternatives The objective of this section is to identify alternatives for the implementation of the proposed project and to evaluate these alternatives based on:

 Cost  Technical feasibility  Environmental impacts In this section, the following alternatives are discussed: 1. Location alternative 2. Technology alternatives 3. Cooling process alternative 4. Engine type alternatives 5. Fuel alternatives 6. “Do Nothing” alternative 8.1 Location Alternative The project site has been made available to the project owner. It is located in the industrial area of Blat at an elevation of 550 m and surrounded by industrial facilities. The proposed power plant will be able to provide steam for surrounding industries or new industries, thus it can be considered as a favorable location. Alternative locations close to the Beirut-Tripoli highway are excluded due to their proximity to residential areas and the coastal line. 8.2 Technology Alternatives 8.2.1 Combined-Cycle Plants Some power plants running on natural gas can generate electricity without the use of steam, turbines are used instead. Gas-turbine generators have been considered as efficient means for power generation since they can be started quickly in response to increasing demand for electricity. Combined-cycle power plants use gas-turbines for power generation and then channel the hot exhaust gas to a boiler to produce steam. This steam is then used to turn another rotor for electricity generation. This process improves the overall efficiency of the generating plant. Advantages:

 High power-to-weight ratio, compared to reciprocating engines.  The cooling water requirement of the combined cycle plant is much lower than the normal steam turbine power plant having same capacity output.  Requires low operational personnel.  Maintenance duration is significantly low.

 Releases lower CO2 and SO2 emissions than the conventional coal fired power plant.  Less vibration than a reciprocating engine.

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 Low operating costs and high operation speed.  Maintenance charges are low.  Low lubricating oil cost and consumption.  Less water used since there is no need for a condenser.  Can be started quickly. Disadvantages:  Cost is high compared to similar-sized reciprocating engine since materials must be more heat resistant.  Less efficient than reciprocating engines.  Delayed response to changes in power settings.  Net output is low since greater power is used to drive compressor.  Overall efficiency of plant is low (~20%) because exhaust gases will still contain heat.  Temperature of combustion chamber is too high thus resulting in a lower shelf life. 8.2.2 Renewable Energy Technology: Photovoltaic (PV) Cells Solar PV panels can be installed for energy generation. Advantages:  Minimal visual impact.  Emit zero CO and zero NOx and SOx.  Noise pollution from thermal power plants will be reduced.  Low operation costs.  Lifetime: 20 years. Disadvantages:

 Cannot be used as a primary source of power.  They are weather dependent.  Require large surface areas to be installed.  Quality of service described as intermittent.  Require large spaces to produce same amount of power generated by thermal power plants. Since PV cells cannot stand alone hence they can be only considered as supplementary to the proposed power plant. 8.3 Cooling Process Alternative Instead of using water for cooling the power plant, sea water is usually used. However, this alternative is not applicable in the proposed power plant since it is located far away from the sea. A cooling tower is usually considered an additional alternative for cooling, but it requires high quantities of water, which are unavailable.

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8.4 Engine Type Alternatives 8.4.1 Two-Stroke Engine The two-stroke engine uses only one engine revolution for each power stroke. The main difference between the four stroke engine and the two stroke engine is the size of the engine, whereby the two stroke engine is larger and is mostly used in large size ships. The four stroke engine is used mainly for power plants. Disadvantages:

 Fuel consumption is at least 75% more than a modern reciprocating diesel engine.  The actual efficiency of the two stroke engine is less than that of the four stroke, even though the two stroke engine has greater power output.  Two stroke engines have low efficiency since fuel gets consumed for every alternate power stroke.  Two stroke engines require a mix of oil with the air-fuel mixture to lubricate the crankshaft, connecting rod and cylinder walls. Additional oil increases the cost.  The combustion of oil added in the mixture of two stroke engines creates large quantities of smoke which leads to air pollution.  The fresh charge that will undergo combustion sometimes is released along with exhaust gases. This leads to wastage of fuel and reduction in engine power delivery.  The exhaust gases often get trapped inside the combustion chamber which makes the fresh charge impure. Hence maximum power does not get delivered because of improper incomplete combustion.  The lifespan of two stroke engines is shorter than that of four stroke engines since the parts of two stroke engines wear out faster due to the lack of a lubrication system so parts of the engines wear out faster.  Two stroke engines are designed in a way where part of the air/fuel leaks out of the chamber through the exhaust port, polluting the environment. This is the reason why two stroke engines are used only in application where the motor is not used very often.  The inefficient fuel-air mixing causes incomplete combustion, inefficient use of the fuel and unwanted exhaust emissions. To produce more power and reasonable efficiency levels, two stroke engines are usually supercharged which increases the cost.

8.4.2 Six-Stroke Engine The six stroke engine is based on the four stroke engine, but with additional complexity intended to make it more efficient and reduce emissions. Disadvantages:

 Brake power and indicated power per cycle per cylinder are comparatively less than those in four stroke engines.

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 The engine size increases due to number of cylinders and additional components (additional stroke in engine). These engines are complex in design and hence require higher manufacturing cost.  Complex head design and heavier engine (due to combustion chamber).  The engine is stable thermodynamically, yet the designing of parts becomes more complex as the torque requirement increases.  Water at high temp comes in contact with metal of cylinder wall, which increases corrosion. Hence, the six stroke engine will not be used in the proposed power plant. 8.5 Fuel Alternatives 8.5.1 Natural Gas Natural gas consists of organic matter from the remains of plant, animal and microorganism decomposition transformed into fossil fuels as a result of compression under the earth’s surface. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons, mainly methane, and is produced either from gas wells or in conjunction with crude oil production. Natural gas can be stored and transported through pipelines, small storage units, or tankers. The infrastructure needed for natural gas distribution is expensive (separate plumbing systems and specialized tanks) and is currently unavailable in Lebanon. However, the proposed power plant can use natural gas when available for power production. Hence, power generation using natural gas in the proposed power plant is impossible at this time. 8.5.2 Orimulsion Orimulsion is a recent liquid fossil fuel consisting of ~70% bitumen dispersed in ~30% water, in addition to small amounts of chemical surfactant (~0.2% by volume) to prevent both materials from separating. In recent years, this fuel has been proposed as a replacement for HFO in power plants throughout the world. Orimulsion is similar in handling and combustion properties as HFO. Advantages:

 It is sold at a lower price per unit of energy than other liquid fuels. Disadvantages:

 The most considered limitation is that an Orimulsion spill is much more difficult to contain and recover than a heavy fuel oil spill. However, Orimulsion is currently unavailable in Lebanon, hence it is impossible to use it at this time in the proposed power plant. 8.5.3 Light Fuel Oil Light Fuel Oil (LFO) is a high value distillate used mainly for standby operation in power plants. Advantages:  LFO is light in nature.  It has low viscosity.

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 It has no sulfur content, thus no ash will be generated during fuel combustion.  LFO is found in Lebanon and is easily accessible since it is mainly used by the transport sector specifically for trucks.  The combustion of LFO generates lower emissions compared to HFO due to its lower nitrogen content. This is why LFO is considered expensive in comparison to other types of fuel oils. Disadvantages:

 LFO has high volatility and high CO2 content. LFO will be only used as emergency fuel for service in the proposed power plant, but can be also used for longer periods in case of HFO shortage (back-up fuel). 8.5.4 Heavy Fuel Oil 1 (HFO1) Heavy Fuel Oil 1 (HFO1) is HFO with 1% sulfur content. Advantages:  The use of HFO1 in power generation increases the lifespan of power engines by 50% due to the low sulfur content present in HFO1. However, HFO1 will not be used by the proposed power plant since it is unavailable in Lebanon. 8.5.5 Heavy Fuel Oil Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) is a blended product based on the residues from refinery distillation and cracking processes. It is a black viscous liquid that requires heating for storage and combustion. Although HFO is available in the Lebanese market, HFO will damage the power engines in the proposed power plant if used; hence HFO will not be used. 8.5.6 Diesel Diesel is considered to be the least flammable source of fuel. It is found in the Lebanese market and can be easily obtained. Diesel fuel has a shelf life of 18-24 months only, without additives. Advantages:

 Diesel is less expensive to operate than other fuels.  Diesel engines can operate under heavy loads for long periods of time and perform better.  Diesel engines are more fuel efficient than when operated under light loads.  Diesel power generators provide the most reliable form of emergency backup power.  Diesel power generators can respond quickly to electricity cut-off events due to the chemical structure of diesel fuel whereby more energy is released per unit than any other fuel source.  They can absorb a full electrical load within ten seconds of grid power failure, unlike other fuel sources that generally take up to two minutes to start operating, which is considered too long in many emergency situations.  Diesel power generators require less water for cooling than other sources of fuel.

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Disadvantages:

 They are subject to wet stacking if operating for long periods of time with ultra-light loads (less than 40% of the rated output), which causes the engine to smoke and run rough because of the carbonization of the injectors. However, running a heavy load will usually clean up the wet stacking condition and allow the engine to perform normally.  Although diesel engines are considered more efficient than heavy fuel oil engines, they produce more nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter.  High maintenance charges needed (major limitation).  The short duration available for fuel-air mixing in diesel engines results in poor combustion characteristics, which reduces the engine speed, decreases the power output and produces more noise impacts than Otto cycle engines.  Diesel engines must have larger capacity to produce the same power as Otto cycle engines because they run at a slower speed.  To produce more power, diesel engines are usually supercharged which increases the cost. 8.5.7 Biofuel Biofuel is produced from wheat, corn, soya beans, sugarcane, manure and waste from crops. Advantages:

 Considered as sustainable, renewable and can be produced upon demand.  Biofuel has lower carbon emissions when burnt as compared to fossil fuels.  It is considered as a cleaner fuel whereby fewer emissions are generated upon burning. This keeps the engine running for a longer time and decreases maintenance costs. Disadvantages:

 These crops require fertilizers to grow better which imposes a risk of surface water contamination due to soil erosion.  Large quantities of water are required to irrigate the biofuel crops which may impose strain on local water resources, if not managed properly.  The interest and capital investment used for biofuel production is considered low but it can match demand. If the demand increases, then increasing the supply will require a long term operation, which will be expensive. 8.5.8 Biodiesel Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning diesel replacement fuel made from natural, renewable sources such as new and used vegetable oils and animal fats. Biodiesel has a shelf life of 18-24 months, without additives. Advantages:

 Biodiesel is the least flammable fuel source.  Fuel delivery can be available to the project site.

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Disadvantages:

 Using biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine substantially reduces emissions. Installing large storage tanks raises cost of the system. 8.5.9 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a by-product of natural gas processing and crude oil refining. LPG is either butane, propane, or a mixture of both. Grade “A” LPG is mostly butane and Grade “F” LPG is mostly propane. Grades “B” LPG through “E” consist of varying mixtures of butane and propane. Advantages:

 Butane and propane are clean burning fuels and have a long shelf life.  They can be easily stored in both large tanks or in smaller 5 - 10 gallon cylinders.

 The use of LPG in power generation releases CO2, however in fewer quantities per unit of energy than does HFO. Disadvantages:

 Butane and propane are placed in a pressurized cylinder containing flammable gas, hence they are dangerous in handling.  The fuel system to be developed when using butane and propane for power generation is more complicated (increased possibility of failure) and more expensive to operate by as much as 3- times the fuel consumption compared to other fuels such as diesel.  Engines operating on butane and propane have a shorter life than diesel engines.

 Although LPG is considered a clean fuel, CO, VOCs, NOx and SO2 are emitted. 8.6 THE “DO NOTHING” Alternative This alternative implies keeping the existing conditions as they are. Site conditions will remain intact; hence there will be no impacts on the natural environmental resources of the proposed site. However, this does not imply that future projects will not be implemented on this site. Hence, environmental impacts may only be delayed. Socio-economic conditions will not improve and specifically power demand. Power demand in the Jbeil region will not be met and Jbeil region will not have a stable source of electricity. Over 300 private generators operating on red diesel will remain in business and their presence will grow in Jbeil region to meet the increasing power demand with uncontrolled emissions and noise levels. The following exhaust air emissions are released from red diesel combustion:

 Particulate matter (PM)  Carbon monoxide (CO)  Nitrogen oxides (NOx)  Hydrocarbons (HC)  Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Economic growth on a regional level will be limited due to the lack of reliable power infrastructure.

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The impact of power generators emissions on public health remains unknown due to the lack of data on the subject. It should be noted that uncontrolled emissions resulting from the combustion of red diesel and used oil is relatively more polluting than HFO combustion. Consumers will remain dissatisfied towards private power generator service during cut-off hours due to:

 Two electrical bills (one from EDJ and another from private generators).  High service fee from private power generators.  Inconvenience due to insufficient power supply (5A or 10A).  Damage of household electrical appliances.  High noise levels and odors. 8.7 Comparison of Alternatives Feasible Alternatives:  Technology alternatives: o Reciprocating combustion (proposed power plant) o Combined-cycle o “Do-nothing” scenario )private power generators(

 Fuel alternatives: o HFO2 (Grade B) (proposed power plant) o Diesel o Biofuel o Biodiesel o Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

 Engine alternatives: o Four stroke (proposed power plant) o Two stroke The optimization between the above alternatives was based upon the magnitude of impacts that each option exerts on the environment. Matrices have been developed (Table 37, Table 38 and Table 39) to compare the impacts of each considered parameter. The matrices are based on a scale from 1 to 3 for positive impacts and from -1 to -3 for negative impacts where:  0 = Neutral  1 = Minimal Impact  2 = Moderate Impact  3 = Significant Impact Once each parameter has been evaluated, the grades allocated to each alternative were summed, and the option that has the highest grade is the recommended option.

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Table 37: Comparison of Technology Alternatives. Reciprocating Internal Do-Nothing Scenario Parameter Combustion Combined-Cycle (Private Power (Proposed Power Plant) Generators) Built-up area/Surface -1 -1 -1 area Fossil fuel consumption -1 -1 -1 Lifespan 3 1 -3 Efficiency & energy 3 1 1 production Air emissions -2 -1 -3 Water consumption 0 -1 0 Noise & vibration -1 -1 -3 Capital cost -1 -2 -2 Operation & -1 -2 -3 maintenance cost Visual impact -1 -1 -2 Job opportunities 3 3 2 Total 1 -5 -15

Table 38: Comparison of Fuel Alternatives. HFO2 (Grade B) Parameter (Proposed Diesel Biofuel Biodiesel LPG Power Plant) Engine lifespan 3 1 1 1 2 Efficiency & energy 3 3 1 1 1 production Air emissions -2 -1 1 1 -1 Capital cost 2 -1 -2 -2 -2 Operation & -1 -2 -1 -1 -2 maintenance cost Total 5 0 0 0 -2

Table 39: Comparison of Engine Alternatives. Four Stroke Parameter Two Stroke (Proposed Power Plant) Fossil fuel consumption -2 -3 Lifespan 3 2 Efficiency & energy production 3 2 Power production 3 3 Air emissions -2 -3 Noise impacts -1 -2 Capital cost -1 -3 Operation & maintenance cost -1 -1 Total 2 -5 113

Environmental Impact Assessment

The comparison of alternatives conducted here above shows that the project option – Four Stroke Reciprocating Internal Combustion Power Plant Operating on HFO2 (Grade B) – is the best suitable and feasible option for implementation.

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9 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN The environmental management plan (EMP) proposes several mitigation or control measures by eliminating, reducing or monitoring to the extent possible many of the impacts that have been identified and discussed. Mitigation measures are intended to eliminate or reduce the effect of potentially significant impacts on the physical, biological and social environment. Thus, they are highly dependent on the significance of the predicted impact, the nature of the impact (permanent vs. temporary), and the phase of the project (construction vs. operation). For impacts that cannot be eliminated, monitoring measures are recommended to ensure that the effects of these impacts do not exceed local or international standards and do not cause adverse health effects to human or environmental receptors. The EMP summarizes the needed measures to avoid, minimize or eliminate impacts and identify roles/ responsibilities and timeframe for EMP implementation. It is the responsibility of the construction contractor and the project operator to abide by the measures stated in the EMP during the construction and operation phases, respectively. Table 40 summarizes the EMP for the purpose of this project to reduce identified environmental impacts to the extent possible.

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Table 40: Environmental Management Plan. Sources of Evaluation of Impact Institutional Phase Project Activities Mitigation Measures Residual Impacts Cost Estimation Impact N M E T R L S Responsibility Emissions -Abiding by the CEMP. -Regular watering around the project site to reduce dust dispersion. -Cover on-site trucks & stockpiles. -Developing a schedule for working hours. -On-site power generators and equipment -Dust emissions from construction should be equipped with exhaust cyclone activities (excavation, digging, filling). No impacts at the end of the Air Emissions N,D M L S R H L filters. Construction Contractor 2,000 $ -Air emissions from construction construction phase. -Turn-off machinery and power generators equipment (PM, NOx, SOx and CO). during idle time. -Equip on-site power generators and equipment (concrete batching plants) with cyclone filters. -Regular maintenance of power generators and construction machinery. -Use low noise and well-maintained machinery. -Limit construction hours during day light. -Operate noisy machinery during regular working hours. -Turn off machinery when idle. -Provide ear plugs to on-site workers. -Establish noise barriers (fence can act as noise Construction barrier) upon complaints. -Excavation and earth works. -All compressors, power generators and -Construction machinery and power pumps should be silent models fitted with No impacts at the end of the Noise generators. N,D M L S R H L properly lined and sealed acoustic covers or Construction Contractor 1,000 $ construction phase. -Construction vehicle traffic on and off enclosures, which should be kept closed site. whenever the machines are in use. -Based on Wärtsilä design, the noise level at the project site will be 70 dBA at 100 m from the edge of the power house or cooling equipment. -Ensure that combustion engines are in good condition and work effectively. -A schedule for working hours should be developed and vehicles should be passed in order to limit noise disruption. -Install on-site portable toilet facilities with Wastewater -Minimal amount of wastewater holding tanks to be emptied periodically by a No impacts at the end of the N,I L L S R L L Construction Contractor 500 $ Generation generated by workers. licensed Contractor (to empty it in the construction phase. municipal sewerage network). -Designated containers shall be provided for the storage of construction wastes. Positive impacts. Excess Solid Waste -Construction wastes will be generated N,D L L S R M L -Regular clean-up of containers should be construction materials can Construction Contractor 500 $ Generation such as steel, timber, concrete, etc. done. be used on-site. -Reuse of materials where applicable.

116 N (Nature): P (positive), N (negative); D (direct), I (indirect) R (Reversibility): R (reversible), I (irreversible) M (Magnitude): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) L (Likelihood of Occurrence): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) E (Extent): L (local), G (global) S (Significance): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) T (Timing): S (short-term), M (medium-term), L (long-term)

Environmental Impact Assessment

Sources of Evaluation of Impact Institutional Phase Project Activities Mitigation Measures Residual Impacts Cost Estimation Impact N M E T R L S Responsibility Depletion of Resources -Power from EDJ and 2 power -Turn off power generators during idle time. Energy Resources generators (400 kVA and 200 kVA). N,I L L S I L L -Periodic maintenance of power generators Minor negative impacts. Construction Contractor 250 $ -Concrete: 318-350 m3. and construction equipment. -Construction of temporary channels to control water runoff and direct it into a -Water consumption: < 10 m3/day, retention basin. supplied by water tankers and the -Properly implement the adopted CEMP. nearby existing well. -In case of accidental spills, apply proper -Increase of surface water runoff cleanup measures and/or excavation. during rainstorms due to soil -Protection of the existing nearby well against Water Resources disturbance and excavation works. N,I L L S I M L Minor negative impacts. Construction Contractor 1,500 $ dumping of construction wastes. -Possible contamination of -Controlling fuel spillage through storage of groundwater resources with fuels and used fuels in tight sealed tanks. lubricants from construction -Used oil, oil filters and oily rags will be stored machinery and vehicles due to on-site in leak-proof drums and delivered to local accidental oil spills or leaks. contractors for the reuse of used oil in power and heat generation. -Maintain as much native trees as possible. -Loss of mature trees in the project site -Landscaping and plantation plans (an 30,000 $ (~1,500 trees). estimate of 3,000 trees over a period of 3 Biological -Temporary and permanent migration N,D H L L I H H years will be planted (1,000/ year)). Moderate impacts. Construction Contractor Resources of faunal species due to construction -Compensate removed trees according to activities in the project site. Ministry of Agriculture guidelines and in - -Habitat fragmentation and loss. coordination with the MoE. Other Impacts -Removal of natural grounds and trees. -Since the project site will be fenced, hence no Visual Intrusion N,D L L S I H L Minor negative impacts. Construction Contractor 1,500 $ -Temporary visual intrusion. mitigation measures are needed. -Construction jobs: 150 workers and 5 engineers. Socio-Economic P,D H L S - H H - Positive impacts. Construction Contractor - -Large supply of local construction materials. -Avoiding trips of trucks during rush hour. -Increase in traffic due to heavy -Using signs, reflectors and guardrails. Traffic and Access equipment and trucks coming in and N,D M L S R L L -Ensuring that the entrance road to the project Minor negative impacts. Construction Contractor - out of construction site. site is never blocked. -Use alternative routes for truck management. -Contractor should adopt a Health and Safety Management Plan. -Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) Health and Safety -High risks of accidents from for workers. No impacts at the end of the N,D L L S I L L Construction Contractor 1,500 $ Hazards construction activities. -Ensure first aid and medical assistance kits construction phase. on-site. -Clear walkways from debris to prevent slips, trips and falls. Emissions -Petroleum vapors during fuel loading. -Control SO emissions by limiting sulfur - 2 1,000 $/year. Operation -Exhaust emissions from on-site power content of HFO. Air Emissions N,D M L L I H H Moderate long term impacts. Project Operator 10,000 $ for annual engines (PM, NOx, SO , CO and CO ). -Reduce particulate emissions through good 2 2 testing of air emissions. -Unburned hydrocarbons and NOx combustion control to minimize the products 117 N (Nature): P (positive), N (negative); D (direct), I (indirect) R (Reversibility): R (reversible), I (irreversible) M (Magnitude): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) L (Likelihood of Occurrence): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) E (Extent): L (local), G (global) S (Significance): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) T (Timing): S (short-term), M (medium-term), L (long-term)

Environmental Impact Assessment

Sources of Evaluation of Impact Institutional Phase Project Activities Mitigation Measures Residual Impacts Cost Estimation Impact N M E T R L S Responsibility released from the power plant stacks of incomplete combustion. will contribute in atmospheric -Implement a traffic management plan, reactions to form ground-level ozone whereby alternative transportation methods in the presence of sunlight. should be encouraged, low emitting & fuel efficient vehicles should be provided by dedicating special parking spaces for them. -Regular maintenance of on-site power engines. -Periodic inspection and monitoring of valves of fuel tank ventilation pipes to ensure proper operation. -A third party accredited firm should be responsible for annual testing of air emissions and Environmental Auditing to confirm compliance with World Bank guidelines. -Load shedding during idle time to reduce air emissions. -Proper Ventilation according to ASHRAE in Standard #62-1989.

-Air emissions from private generators P H L L R H H - - - - within neighborhoods will be reduced.

-Equip power engines with silencers. -Noise emissions (based on Wärtsilä design) will be 70 dBA at 100 m from the edge of the power house or cooling equipment. -Implement schedule of maintenance to -Operation of power engines and fans. 1,500 $ for silencer. maintain power engines and power plant Noise -Passage of trucks and vehicles to and N,D M L L I H L No impacts. Project Operator 500 $/year for equipment in good and efficient working out of the site. maintenance. order. -Lower speed limit inside power plant to reduce noise of trucks passage. -Comply with noise standards set by the MoE decision 52/1/96. -Oil spills from fuel supply tankers -Direct discharge of untreated wastewater will during oil delivery. be prohibited. Wastewater -Chemical cleaning of boilers and -An on-site WWTP for oily water treatment Integrated in the N,I L L L R H M Negligible impacts. Project Operator Generation equipment. will be installed. Design. -Oily water produced from fuel oil and -Oil-water separator (capacity: 12 m3/day) will lubricating oil separators. be installed. 118 N (Nature): P (positive), N (negative); D (direct), I (indirect) R (Reversibility): R (reversible), I (irreversible) M (Magnitude): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) L (Likelihood of Occurrence): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) E (Extent): L (local), G (global) S (Significance): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) T (Timing): S (short-term), M (medium-term), L (long-term)

Environmental Impact Assessment

Sources of Evaluation of Impact Institutional Phase Project Activities Mitigation Measures Residual Impacts Cost Estimation Impact N M E T R L S Responsibility -Domestic wastewater. -Treated water will be reused (cleaning/irrigation). -Use environmentally friendly cleaning products (Petro-Clean) and degreasers )Nature’s Way K-Gold). -Domestic waste separation at source (reuse and recycling). Solid Waste -Domestic solid waste. N,D L L L R L L -A recycling program shall be employed to No impacts. Project Operator 200 $ Generation ensure that all recyclable materials are placed in a recycling stream. -Management (reuse) of accumulated sludge from oil separator. Dewatered sludge will be -Sludge from oil-water disposed in a licensed landfill. Hazardous Waste separator/WWTP. N,I L L L R M L -Management (reuse) of oil residues from oil Negligible impacts. Project Operator 1,000 $/year Generation -Oil residues from oil interceptor. interceptor. Oil residues will be collected by a contractor for reuse in power/heat generation. -Fuel storage tanks will have secondary containment to contain any spills. Drains will be routed to the on-site oil-water separator. -Fuel storage tanks should be placed in a containment area where the ground is paved and lined with impervious material. -Fuel storage tanks should be fitted with valves that automatically stop the flow of fuel in the event of any accidental disconnections. -Fuel storage tanks should be equipped with Accidental Integrated in the -Oil spills from supply fuel tankers. N,I H L L R L L level detectors capable of alerting on-site No impacts. Project Operator Releases Design. worker to potential leaks and accidental overfilling of the storage tanks. -Drains of the containment area should be connected to the oil-water separator, but should be equipped with remote shut-off valves so that a large oil leak or spill could be retained. -Underground piping should be protected from corrosion and damage due to surface loads. Depletion of Resources -Load shedding during idle time to reduce consumption of HFO. -Use efficient internal lighting to reduce power plant consumption, such as T5 lamps instead -Heavy fuel oil: 10 tons/hr. of T8 lamps for fluorescent fixtures. -Lubricant oil: 100 tons/year. -Prevent using halogen and incandescent Energy Resources N,D H G L I H H Moderate negative impacts. Project Operator 100 $ -Plant own power consumption: ~ lighting. 24,000 KWh/day. -Consider the use of PV panels for sustainable power generation. -Abiding by the ASHRAE standards for HVAC systems. -Setting signs to remind workers to turn off 119 N (Nature): P (positive), N (negative); D (direct), I (indirect) R (Reversibility): R (reversible), I (irreversible) M (Magnitude): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) L (Likelihood of Occurrence): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) E (Extent): L (local), G (global) S (Significance): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) T (Timing): S (short-term), M (medium-term), L (long-term)

Environmental Impact Assessment

Sources of Evaluation of Impact Institutional Phase Project Activities Mitigation Measures Residual Impacts Cost Estimation Impact N M E T R L S Responsibility lights in vacated rooms. -Paved areas will reduce any direct impact on groundwater. -Oil storage tanks will be made of thick carbon treated steel and hydro tested. -Oil storage tanks will be enclosed inside concrete walls. -Storm water runoff will be directed to oil- water separator and WWTP. -Easily accessible spill kits will be provided on- site (absorbent material). -Water-saving sanitary fixtures shall be utilized including flow-restricted faucets with spray heads that turn off automatically, low flow -Oil leaks or oil spills from fuel loading dual flush WCs, sensor operated mixers and or oil storage tanks. flush valves. Integrated in the Water Resources -Water consumption for domestic N,D L L L I M M Negative impacts. Project Operator -Sanitary drainage shall be collected from Design. usage (9 m3/day) and power plant toilets to discharge into the on-site WWTP. process (9 m3/day). -A drip irrigation system shall be used for landscaping activities to control the use of water. -In order to minimize groundwater contamination from any small oil spill, absorb the oil spill with sand or earth material. Easily accessible spill kits should be provided on-site (absorbent material). -In the case of a large oil spill, prevent the oil spill from spreading by making a barrier with sand, earth or other containment material. Inform local authorities if impacts cannot be contained. -Since the proposed power plant will have air emissions dispersed into the -Maintain power plant emissions to comply Biological atmosphere, this will have downwind with World Bank guidelines. N,I M L L I M M Negative impacts. Project Operator - Resources effects on the species and habitats -Load shedding during idle time to reduce air existing on-site and surrounding the emissions. project site. Other Impacts -1 cluster of 7 stacks (height: 40 m) will -Maintenance of power engines (amount of oil Minor negative impacts. Included in the be seen from the surroundings. to be combusted) to ensure transparent maintenance contract Visual Intrusion N,D M L L I M M Project Operator -It is expected that a transparent smoke. (refer to noise smoke will be released from the stacks. -Landscaping around the project site. parameter). -Operation jobs: 60 workers (3 shifts), 2 engineers and 1 manager. -Lower service fees (by 37%). -Low impact on surrounding land price. Socio-Economic -Boost economic profile of Jbeil region P,I H L L - H H - Positive impacts. Project Operator - by providing sufficient energy demands. -Jbeil region will attract new investors due to electricity availability (basic 120 N (Nature): P (positive), N (negative); D (direct), I (indirect) R (Reversibility): R (reversible), I (irreversible) M (Magnitude): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) L (Likelihood of Occurrence): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) E (Extent): L (local), G (global) S (Significance): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) T (Timing): S (short-term), M (medium-term), L (long-term)

Environmental Impact Assessment

Sources of Evaluation of Impact Institutional Phase Project Activities Mitigation Measures Residual Impacts Cost Estimation Impact N M E T R L S Responsibility element for growth). -Eliminate the need for private generators.

-Loss of jobs (~300 owners of private N,I M L L R M M - Negative impacts. - - power generators). -Trucks will access the site using three roads (which will minimize traffic): o Nahr Ibrahim-Bir El Hait south- -Providing parking spaces for 60 workers. east of the site. -Encourage carpooling. o Jbeil-Annaya north-east of the -The use of the 3 alternative roads will Traffic and Access P,D H L L R H H Positive impacts. Project Operator - site. minimize traffic impact. o Mastita-Blat west of the site. -Coordinate with Blat municipality on the -The power plant will minimize traffic timing of truck passage as needed. caused by trucks delivering fuel in Jbeil area. -Adopt Health and Safety Management Plan. -Develop an Emergency Oil Spill Response Plan. -An on-site first aid facility (with qualified nurse) should be provided. -“No Smoking” policy should be implemented in the power plant. -Adopt an advanced alarm system/ emergency evacuation plan. -Provide fire protection (firefighting water tank: 600 m3) equipment. -Heat stress -Regular inspection and maintenance of -High noise levels pressure vessels and piping within the power -Electrical hazards Health and Safety plant. Integrated in the -Fire and explosion hazards N,D M L L I H M Negative moderate impacts. Project Operator Hazards -Provision of adequate ventilation in work Design. -Skin, eye, inhalation and ingestion areas to reduce heat and humidity. hazards as a result using HFO for -Reducing working shifts in elevated power generation. temperature environments and ensuring access to drinking water. -Use of warning signs near high temperature surfaces. -Provide sound-insulated control rooms, identify and mark high noise areas. -Provide specialized electrical safety training to workers working with or around exposed components of electric circuits. -Provide health and safety training to all on- site workers.

121 N (Nature): P (positive), N (negative); D (direct), I (indirect) R (Reversibility): R (reversible), I (irreversible) M (Magnitude): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) L (Likelihood of Occurrence): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) E (Extent): L (local), G (global) S (Significance): L (low), M (moderate), H (high) T (Timing): S (short-term), M (medium-term), L (long-term)

Environmental Impact Assessment

10 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PLAN Environmental monitoring during the construction and operation phases of the project aims to continuously provide information about certain environmental impacts of the project and the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Such information may allow timely corrective action to be taken when needed. Environmental monitoring during construction will be mainly the responsibility of the Contractor. Any environmental violations shall be immediately transmitted to the MoE in order to arrange corrective measures. During operation, monitoring will be mainly the responsibility of the Project Operator, who will supervise and administer the environmental aspects of the project in coordination with the MoE and other authorities as applicable. Table 41 presents the environmental parameters that should be monitored and the proposed schedule for this project.

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Table 41: Environmental Monitoring Plan. Standard/Guidelines Phase Impacts Parameters to Monitor Frequency Monitoring Location Number of Samples Institutional Responsibility Reference National/International Emissions Downwind receptors within 2 measurements (10 MoE Decision -Air Emissions/GHG Dust (PM ) Upon complaints PM10: 80 µg/m3 Contractor 10 proximity from construction sites hour duration). 52/1/1996 3 measurements on typical working days Portable integrated noise meter for (average 1 hour) MoE Decision -Noise measuring Leq (Equivalent Noise Levels) Upon complaints Project site boundaries during: Noise: 60-70 dBA Contractor 52/1/1996 Construction along with Lmax, L10 & L90  7-8 am  1-2 pm  4-5 pm Visual monitoring of general site solid Construction sites and equipment -Solid Waste Generation Daily - - Contractor - waste storage areas Other Impacts Investigation of site conditions and health At time of accident or Where accident or injury occurs -Health Safety Hazards - - Contractor - and safety guidelines injury Emissions PM: 50 mg/Nm3 Air measurements of flue gas flow, NOx, 3 World Bank -Air Emissions/GHG Yearly Stack 1 sample over 24 hrs. SO2: 1,170 mg/Nm Project Operator SO2, CO and PM10. 3 Guidelines NO2: 1,460 mg/Nm 3 measurements on typical working days Portable integrated noise meter for (average 1 hour) -Noise measuring Leq (Equivalent Noise Levels) Upon Complaints Project site boundaries during: Noise: 60-70 dBA Project Operator Decision 52/1/1996 along with Lmax, L10 & L90  7-8 am  1-2 pm  6-7 pm -Total Dissolved Solids -TDS: <450 mg/l -Sodium -Sodium: <3 SAR -Chloride -Chloride: <4 meq/l -Fluoride -Fluoride: 1 mg/l -Boron -Boron: <0.7 mg/l -Nitrate -Nitrate: <5 mg/l -Bicarbonate Wastewater Treatment Plant 3 samples (1 Blank and -Bicarbonate: <1.5 meq/l Operation -Wastewater Twice per Year Project Operator FAO, 1985 -pH Effluent 2 Samples). -pH: 6.5-8.4 -Arsenic -Arsenic: 0.10 mg/l -Chromium -Chromium: 0.1 mg/l -Lead -Lead: 5 mg/l -Copper -Copper: 0.2 mg/l -Biological Oxygen Demand -BOD: ≤ 30 mg/l -Total Suspended Solids -TSS: ≤ 30 mg/l -Solid Waste Generation Visual monitoring of waste collected Daily On-site - - Project Operator - -Arsenic -Arsenic: 75 mg/kg -Cadmium -Cadmium: 85 mg/kg -Chromium -Chromium: 3,000 mg/kg -Copper -Copper: 4,300 mg/kg -Lead 3 samples (1 Blank and -Lead: 840 mg/kg -Sludge Generation Twice per Year WWTP sludge Project Operator U.S. EPA, 1991 -Mercury 2 Samples). -Mercury: 57 mg/kg -Molybdenum -Molybdenum: 75 mg/kg -Nickel -Nickel: 420 mg/kg -Selenium -Selenium: 100 mg/kg -Zinc -Zinc: 7,500 mg/kg

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Standard/Guidelines Phase Impacts Parameters to Monitor Frequency Monitoring Location Number of Samples Institutional Responsibility Reference National/International Maintain records of sludge removal 6 months Power Plant - - Project Operator - Depletion of Resources Monitoring of plantation plan and Till end of plantation MoA Decision -Biological Resources To be determined - - Project Operator seedlings to be given to MoA plan 1/476/2012 Other Impacts Mechanical Inspection: Yearly, starting from -The gap between outer and -Precision testing/tightness testing the fifth year of inner layer of the tank -Fuel Tanks and Pipes - Pressure testing purchase - - Project Operator Decree 5509/1994 - Valves of fuel tank ventilation -Volumetric analysis pipes -Vapor monitoring Check-up on fire extinguishers (check Yearly -Fire Extinguishers Power Plant - - Project Operator - expiry date) Visual monitoring of irrigation needs, As needed -Visual Intrusion Landscaped areas - - Project Operator - trimming and greenery -Health Safety Hazards Medical check-up on Health of Workers Bi-annual Power Plant - - Project Operator -

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11 INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING AND CAPACITY BUILDING Institutional strengthening is needed in order to enhance the communication between the concerned parties, with the view to ensure compliance with the EMP. The equipment used for sampling and monitoring air emissions should be of highest and most updated technologies. All samples taken on-site should be sent to and analyzed by certified third party laboratories with the view to ensure non-biased results. This will ensure compliance with the EMP and with MoE requirements. It is recommended that the MoE establish a national database where all baseline information and data from different regions can be made public or shared with environmental consultants and researchers. This database could comprise air quality measurements, noise level measurement, water sampling, geological maps, seismic information and history, climatologic data, etc. All the measurements that will be conducted onsite should be transmitted to the database and coordinated with MoE along with the compliance reports. The transmittal of compliance data shall be done periodically to the compliance officers in MoE. Any comments raised by MoE officers should be considered and revisions shall be made in due time. The revision period shall be identified by the compliance officers in order to allow for provision of all additional data required by MoE. During construction, the contractor is the sole party responsible for monitoring the environmental parameters and is responsible for providing a training program for his staff. The contractor shall also develop a CEMP to which he must abide by. During operation, it is the responsibility of the owner/operator of any facilities or utility services within the project site to monitor the outcomes associated with their respective activities as indicated in the EMP. In the proposed project, the project operator is responsible for implementing a CEMS to provide continuous records of exhaust gas emissions released from the power plant stack over an extended and uninterrupted period of time. These records shall be conveyed to the MoE regularly.

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12 EMERGENCY PLAN This section will present an outline for a contingency plan that should be developed specifically for this project and which should be used in the occurrence of accidents and emergencies. The emergency plan should be developed by the Contractor. Emergency preparedness helps minimize the human suffering and economic losses that can result from emergencies. It should be understood that the size and complexity of projects, as well as their access and location, have a bearing on the degree of planning necessary for emergencies. It should be noted that the nearest hospital is Notre Dame Maritime Hospital, 3.5 km north-west of the project site. All the workers shall be informed on the location of the nearest hospital. Planning shall begin before any work commences on the project. A good emergency response plan can be generic and, with some minor changes, can be easily adapted to specific sites and readily implemented. Development should include the following considerations:

 Hazard identification/assessment o Transportation, materials handling, hoisting, equipment or product installation, temporary structures, material storage, start-up, and commissioning activities o Environmental concerns o Consultation with the client regarding potential hazards when working in or adjacent to operating facilities o Resources such as material safety data sheets (MSDSs) to determine potential hazards from on-site materials o Proximity to traffic and public ways  Emergency resources o Emergency number system o Fire extinguishers o Spills containment equipment o First aid kits  Communication systems o Indicate location of telephones o List of site personnel with cellular phones or two-way radios o Any other equipment available  Administration of the plan  Emergency response procedure  Communication of the procedure

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13 CONCLUSION The EIA has shown that there is a clear positive socio-economic advantage from the operation of this project. It will solve the problem of power shortage and the continuous increase in power demand. It will substitute the need for private power generators that are placed within neighborhoods resulting in noise and air pollution. This problem has a direct and daily impact on households, industries, educational and commercial facilities, tourism and medical services. The main significant environmental impact during the construction phase is the removal of trees resulting in the loss of trees and migration of faunal species. Negative impacts will be controlled by:

 Compensating removed trees according to MoA guidelines (4 seedlings for each removed tree).  Committing to a plantation plan (3,000 trees/3 years) in coordination with the MoE. The main significant environmental impact during the operation phase is the generation of air emissions

(NOx, SO2, CO, CO2 and PM). Negative impacts will be controlled by:  Implementing the Continuous Emission Monitoring System where records will be conveyed to the MoE regularly.  Annual testing of air emissions conducted by a third party accredited firm to confirm compliance with World Bank guidelines.  Scheduled maintenance of power plant equipment.

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14 REFERENCES Air quality assessment in an East Mediterranean country: the case of Lebanon, Charbel Abdallah, Antonio Piersanti, Massimo D’Isidoro, Charbel Afif, Nour Masri, Andrea Capppelletti, Gino Briganti, Karine Sartelet, Gaia Righini, Luisella Ciancarella, Gabriele Zanini.” Amsoil. Two-cycle Engine Applications and Lubrication Needs.Retrieved from: https://www.amsoil.com/articlespr/article_2cycleapplications.aspx CDR. 2009. Electricity.Retrieved from: http://www.cdr.gov.lb/eng/progress_reports/pr102009/Eelec.pdf Diesel Technology Forum. POWER GENERATION.Retrieved from: http://www.dieselforum.org/about-clean-diesel/power-generation Electricite de Jbeil.Retrieved from: http://www.edjjbeil.com/ Electricite du Liban.Retrieved from: http://www.edl.gov.lb/ABOUTEDL.htm Electropaedia.2005. Battery and Energy Technologies.Retrieved from: http://www.mpoweruk.com/piston_engines.htm Green Line Association. 2007. Status and Potentials of Renewable Energy Technologies in Lebanon and the Region (Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Syria).Retrieved from: http://greenline.org.lb/new/pdf_files/document_1_final_re_study.pdf International Finance Corporation World Bank Group.2008.Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines for Thermal Power Plants.Retrieved from: http://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/dfb6a60048855a21852cd76a6515bb18/FINAL_Thermal%2BPow er.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&id=1323162579734 Lee Bell BA MA (ESD) On behalf of the National Toxics Network (Inc). 2009.The Heavy Oil Power Deal A Dark Cloud over East Timor’s Bright Future.Retrieved from: http://www.laohamutuk.org/Oil/Power/NTNHeavyOilMar09.pdf Ministry of Environment/LEDO.2001.Lebanon State of the Environment Report. Retrieved from: http://www.unep.org/dewa/westasia/Assessments/national_SOEs/west%20asia/Lebanon/Chap7Energy .pdf MOE/UNDP/ECODIT. 2011.State of the Environment Report.Retrieved from: http://test.moe.gov.lb/Documents/SOER%20Chap%209.pdf Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, the University of Michigan.2013.Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan.Retrieved from: http://www.oseh.umich.edu/pdf/spcc_plan.pdf United States Environmental Protection Agency.2012. Guidelines for Water Reuse.Retrieved from: http://nepis.epa.gov/Adobe/PDF/P100FS7K.pdf

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Wartsilla. Combustion Engine for Power Generation: Introduction.Retrieved from: http://www.wartsila.com/energy/learning-center/technical-comparisons/combustion-engine-for- power-generation-introduction Wartsilla.Combined Cycle Plant for Power Generation: Introduction.Retrieved from: http://www.wartsila.com/energy/learning-center/technical-comparisons/combined-cycle-plant-for- power-generation-introduction WORLD BANK GROUP. 1998. Thermal Power: Guidelines for New Plants.Retrieved from: http://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/3ca3ef004885553eb614f66a6515bb18/thermnew_PPAH.pdf?M OD=AJPERES Wuxiang Hexin Power Generation Co., Ltd. 2011. Wuxiang Hexin Thermal Power Plant Energy-saving Retrofit Project Environmental Management Plan.Retrieved from: http://wwwwds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2011/12/12/000333038 20111212234455/Rendered/PDF/E17860v120EA0P010Box365740B0EAP0EMP.pdf

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15 APPENDICES Appendix A:

- Letters from MoE and Jbeil Maronite Archbishopric. - Official Permits and Maps of the Power Plant. - Client’s Commitment Letter.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Appendix B:

- CVs of K&A Environmental Team.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Appendix C:

- The Distribution of Private Power Generators within Jbeil Area. - The Distribution of Power Service to Project Beneficiaries.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Appendix D: - Cross-Sectional Drawings and Site Plans of the Power Plant.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Appendix E:

- Climatic Data of Jbeil (Mirna El Souri Thesis at the Lebanese American University).

Environmental Impact Assessment

Appendix F:

- Technical Data of the Production Process.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Appendix G:

- Road Site Observations for the Proposed Power Plant.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Appendix H:

- Map Showing Water Network. - Wastewater Treatment Plant and Oil Separator Specifications.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Appendix I: - MSDS of Petro-Clean and Nature’s Way K-Gold.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Appendix J: - Schedule of Maintenance.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Appendix K: - Door-to-Door Survey.