ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF ICE PLANT AT FEEALI, FAAFU ATOLL Doc Number: EIA-MIFCO-02-1 April 2021 Prepared for MIFCO Maldives EIA Consultant CDE Consulting, Maldives EIA for the proposed construction and operation of ice plant at Feeali, Faafu Atoll ހިންގުމުގެ ތަރައްޤީކޮށް ޕްލާންޓެއް އައިސް ފީއަލީގައި ފ. ބަޔާންކުރާ މިންވަރު އަސަރުކުރާނެ ތިމާވެއްޓަށް ޝމަރްޫޢުއނިް ރިޕޯޓު 2021 އެޕްރިލް : އެދިޔާރު ޝމަރްޫޢުގެ މިފްކޯ : ކޮންސަލްޓަންޓް އޭ . އައި .އީ ޝމަރްޫޢުގެ ކޮންސަލްޓިންގް އީ .ޑީ .ސީ ii EIA for the proposed construction and operation of ice plant at Feeali, Faafu Atoll Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................................ I LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................................................... VI LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................................................... VII LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................................................ VIII ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................................................ X LEAD CONSULTANT’S DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................ XI PROPONENT’S DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................................ XII EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................................... XIII 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................... 17 1.1 GENERAL ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 1.2 OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ................................................................................................................................ 17 1.3 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT ........................................................................................................................ 17 1.4 NEEDS AND JUSTIFICATION ...................................................................................................................................................... 17 1.5 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE EIA ................................................................................................................................. 18 1.6 PROJECT PROPONENT ............................................................................................................................................................... 19 1.7 PROJECT SITE ............................................................................................................................................................................. 19 1.8 PROJECT FINANCING ................................................................................................................................................................. 24 1.9 DISCLAIMER ON INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................................... 24 1.10 SCOPE OF THE EIA .................................................................................................................................................................... 24 1.11 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT TEAM ................................................................................................................... 24 2 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................................................. 26 2.1 GENERAL APPROACH ................................................................................................................................................................ 26 2.2 EIA PROCESS ............................................................................................................................................................................. 26 2.3 SCOPING MEETING .................................................................................................................................................................... 27 2.4 LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................................................................... 27 2.5 FIELD SURVEYS .......................................................................................................................................................................... 27 2.5.1 Noise .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 27 2.5.2 Ground Water Quality ....................................................................................................................................................... 28 2.5.3 Marine Water Quality ........................................................................................................................................................ 28 2.5.4 Depth Spot Readings .......................................................................................................................................................... 28 2.5.5 Currents ................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 i EIA for the proposed construction and operation of ice plant at Feeali, Faafu Atoll 2.6 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS ............................................................................................................................................. 29 2.7 IMPACT ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................... 29 2.7.1 Cumulative Impact Assessment ..................................................................................................................................... 34 2.8 POTENTIAL DATA GAPS AND LIMITATIONS OF STUDY ........................................................................................................ 35 3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................................................... 37 3.1 GENERAL PROJECT OUTLINE ................................................................................................................................................... 37 3.2 LEGAL STATUS OF LAND ........................................................................................................................................................... 37 3.3 PROPOSED DESIGN OF THE ICE PLANT ................................................................................................................................... 37 3.3.1 Ice Plant Design .................................................................................................................................................................... 38 3.3.2 Concept Approval ................................................................................................................................................................ 39 3.3.3 Power Supply for Ice Plant .............................................................................................................................................. 39 3.3.4 Refrigerants used ................................................................................................................................................................. 39 3.3.5 Transportation of Ice to Fishing Vessel ..................................................................................................................... 39 3.3.6 Water Supply for Ice plant .............................................................................................................................................. 40 3.3.7 Output Water ........................................................................................................................................................................ 40 3.4 PROJECT MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................................................................... 40 3.4.1 Contracting ............................................................................................................................................................................ 40 3.4.2 Target Dates and Project Duration ............................................................................................................................. 40 3.4.3 Tasks Already Completed ................................................................................................................................................