Some projects are required by law to first evaluate the project to determine its impact on the environment and human health, and thereafter set out the required environmental monitoring and management procedures and plans in a concise Environmental Impact Assessment (see list here). This document should:

• determine the potential and known effects of proposed projects on the cultural, social, economic and ecological health of an area affected and put in place measures to avoid negative impacts while enhancing the positive ones.
• ensure that adequate environmental information is available to decision makers,
• Identify cultural, social, economic and ecological monitoring and management requirements during construction, operation & decommissioning,
• Improve public participation in government decisions by involving the public at all stages of the EIA

If your project falls within this scope, Contact Us today and our dedicated team will not only prepare the EIA but also handle the entire process on your behalf and help you secure this essential certificate within the shortest timescales possible. This is carried out in the following steps:

Development and Submission of Project Prospectus

The first step involves the preparation of a prospectus or short report that informs EMA of your proposed business activity detailing its location, size, area sensitivity, and project implementation strategy, among others issues.

Guidance and Requirements

In response, EMA will thereafter:

• provide us with a breakdown of key issues that are likely to be important during the detailed EIA phase and eliminates those that are not;
• identify interested and affected parties, government departments and proponents whom we should consult and involve in the preparation of the EIA;
• Highlight the main environmental issues which must be addressed in an EIA study.

Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

Thereafter, you will be required to identify and critically assess the project’s likely environmental impacts before developing an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) therefrom. This part of the EIA summarizes the abovementioned impacts, highlights how the project will mitigate these in compliance with industry standards, identifies the resources and personnel allocated thereto, and proposes an action plan for implementation. It also provides for a contingency plan for when impacts are greater than anticipated and outlines a programme for monitoring and evaluation.

EIA Review & Monitoring

The document will thereafter be appraised by a review team from EMA to assess the adequacy and quality of the EIA report against the anticipated project impacts, mitigation measures, and comments from interested and affected parties. All in all, the process can take up to 3 months following which you will be issued with your EIA certificate. Thereafter, you are required to implement and follow the EMP guidelines during project implementation as EMA will monitor and audit your adherence to the same.