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Wardell Armstrong International Scoping Report ...
Wardell Armstrong International Scoping Report ....
About this update from Oracle Power Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \n\n 17/06/2009\n GB00B23JN426/GBP/PLUS-exn\n\n Oracle Coalfields PLC\n\n Wardell Armstrong International Scoping Report Completed\n\n Environmental & Social Impact Assessment Commenced\n\nOracle Coalfields PLC (PLUS: ORCP) (\"Oracle\" or \"the Company\"), the UK developer of the 1.4 billion tonne\nBlock VI coal deposit in southern Pakistan, is pleased to announce that Wardell Armstrong International (WAI)\nhas completed the scoping report in respect of their proposed Thar Coalfield development. WAI has commenced\nthe Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), to be undertaken in parallel with the phases of Bankable\nFeasibility Study (BFS).\n\nFollowing a site visit in April, WAI has released its scoping report. This enabling document sets out the\nmain project parameters for the baseline study and identifies the potential significant environmental and\nsocial impacts of the planned open pit mining operation. A photographic record of the site was compiled, a\nvisual reconnaissance level assessment of on-site conditions was obtained and various settlements within Block\nVI and nearby villages were visited to form an initial assessment of environmental conditions and nature of\ncommunities that may potentially be affected by the project.\n\nDuring the visit, meetings with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and local communities revealed strong\nsupport for the Block VI project, as well as expectations of positive employment and economic benefits arising\nfrom it. They also expressed their concerns to be addressed within the study and pledged support to\nfacilitate the ESIA process.\n\nThe formal ESIA for the Block VI project will be prepared to a standard appropriate for a Feasibility Study to\nWorld Bank (WB) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) requirements and will follow the Equator\nPrinciples and IFC Performance Standards. In addition, the work will also meet in-country EIA requirements.\n\nThe next stage of the ESIA process is the collection of environmental and social baseline data to provide a\ncurrent site setting and sufficient information to enable detailed impact prediction, both in terms of\nsignificance and scale. This will include data on land take, flora/fauna, air quality & noise, water (both\nsurface and groundwater), and social baseline information.\n\nAlthough the Thar Desert is...