Offshore exploration drilling - Ampasindava Profond Block 

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

ExxonMobil plans an offshore exploration drilling activities on Ampasindava Offshore Profond Block. The block is located in the Mozambique Channel, along the North-West coast of Madagascar, and covers approximately 14,000 km2. The water depth of the area reaches 3,000 m.

Sogreah Magelis performed an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for this project.

This study contained several parts:
• Environmental and Social Baseline Survey (ESBS)
• Environmental and Social Impact Analysis
• Mitigation measures
• Risk Assessment
• Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

Regarding the ESBS, Sogreah Magelis carried out a thorough description of marine ecosystems, sensitive species and socio-economic aspects of the project area.

The ESIA included the identification and evaluation of negative and positive impacts as well as an inventory of wastes, discharges and emissions resulting from the project activities.

Mitigation measures were proposed to prevent, reduce and control the negative impacts.
A sensitivity map was built (based on the processing of satellite images) and was used as a tool to identify particular areas and appropriate mitigation measures.

The Environmental Management Plan was used as a practical and methodological guide for the monitoring, internal organization, external communication, etc.

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> Country : MADAGASCAR
> Client : EXXONMOBIL
> Date : 2008