Olivier Masson
26 November 2007
Port Louis — New avenues for the generation of electricity are inevitably linked to considerations for environment conservation. This is shown in the time span needed to give the green light to the new Gamma waste-to-energy project.
Gamma-Covanta waste-to-energy plant was initially scheduled for construction as from mid 2007.
"The Environmental impact assessment was presented in February and has only been approved this week." As the minister of Environment, Anil Baichoo, stresses himself, the Gamma waste-to-energy project at La Chaumière is of "national significance". That it has been scrutinized lengthily before the green light was given to its EIA report is thus unsurprising. This casts a practical light on the different steps towards a project's approval.
Gamma-Covanta's project was not imposed from the start. And the Ramboll counter report was in fact testimony that a dialogue has been going on between the authorities and citizens on that impassioned issue. That citizens like Kemraz Orthoo, president of Gros-Cailloux village council, in the vicinity of La Chaumière, now "request that authorities submit to the general public the counter report from the Ramboll experts", highlights this.
The approval process from authorities actually began for Gamma waste-to-energy project in January 2006, when it was submitted to the government for consideration. It was presented to the Fast Track Committee in February of the same year and a "Letter of intent" was subsequently issued by the Board of Investment on behalf of the government on 5th May 2006 recommending the project.
Government then issued, through the ministry of Housing and Lands an industrial lease to the promoters for the identified 23 hectares of land at La Chaumière for the purpose of this project. When in January the EIA report was presented, comments were addressed to the EIA committee, an authority made of ministry representatives and environmentalists, among others. Considering the complexity and novelty of this type of project, authorities decided that the limit date for handing over the comments would be postponed and the delay for this exercise was extended to 55 days.
Risks to the environment studied
So, though some felt, as Jean-Michel Casse, that "things are being done secretly, without proper explanation", there have been avenues of dialogue. "Requests from the public have been taken into account when the Board of Investment contacted the Ramboll consultants", stresses Anil Baichoo - namely the impact on livestock, the emission of flying and bottom ash, the risk for underground water or La Ferme reservoir and the general impact on road traffic. "A meeting was also organized on 27th May with an anti-pollution platform on the ministry's premises, in my presence." On 7th August, all the concerned parties went on discussing all the issues involved.
Now awaiting the promoters of the Gamma waste-to-energy Project proposal are the relevant development permits and, above all, negotiations with the government on the terms and conditions for a "Waste Disposal Agreement" for the delivery of 300,000 tons per annum of solid waste. Discussions will be also be concluded on a "Power Purchase Agreement" with the Central Electricity Board to enable the sale of electricity to the board. Among others, the discussions will include tipping fees in exchange for the promoters' services.
This being said, everybody will not be satisfied. There will always remain valuable means of expressing just representations. The promoters will have to go on following the strict paths imposed by the procedure.
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