Project resources

Environmental Impact Assessment

The Rovuma LNG Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a comprehensive environmental study that was completed jointly with Anadarko between 2011 and 2014 to identify and assess the potential for environmental, social and health impacts that will need to be managed during construction and operation.

The EIA assesses the feasibility of the Project within its environment and social settings. It further identifies potential environmental and social impacts and proposed practicable ways to manage the impacts.

The EIA concluded when the Ministry of Coordination of Environmental Affairs (MICOA) approved the final EIA Report on June 20, 2014.

Since the completion of the EIA, the group of project partners and the project design have changed from the early definition, resulting in the need for additional environmental and social studies. As ExxonMobil continues to evaluate the environmental and social setting and refine the project, further studies are conducted and management measures developed.  For example, a summary of the work conducted from 2014 - 2019 has been compiled into a Supplementary Lender Information Pack (SLIP) providing an overview of the environmental and social work since the EIA was first approved by the Government of Mozambique in 2014.

The SLIP provides:

• A summary of the Rovuma LNG project (upstream and midstream and associated facilities)
• A summary of the project operating context
• A summary of how the Rovuma LNG project is meeting both Mozambican, corporate and E&S international lending requirements
• A summary of additional baseline data that has been collected since the completion of the EIA (2014) and additional planned data collection
• A summary of additional impact assessments that have been undertaken since the completion of the EIA (2014)
• An overview of how the outputs of these impacts assessments have been utilized to inform the development of management system strategies and plans
• An overview of the management systems in place and responsibilities for delivery of all requirements
• An overview of the current state of development of future work scopes

The Rovuma LNG Project maintains a current understanding of environmental and social risks and impacts, translates assessment findings into management actions, and supports ongoing alignment with regulatory and lender requirements.  Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) reflect current project design, surrounding conditions and describe approaches to manage and mitigate potential environmental and social impacts and drive our actions through construction and operations.

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An LNG processing plant, such as the proposed Afungi LNG park, requires a large area of land for the safe construction of the onshore and near shore LNG facilities. Once the construction phase of the project commences, it will also mark the beginning of land clearance, excavations and earth moving activities.

The project’s health and safety standards, guided by international health and safety guidelines and industry good practice, indicate that the nature and scale of construction activities will not allow for communities to remain and continue their subsistence livelihoods in close proximity to the LNG processing plant. As a precautionary safety measure, project-affected communities in the project Industrial Zone will need to be resettled.

Resettlement includes both physical and economic displacement.

Physical displacement involves the loss of shelter and assets resulting from acquisition of land associated with the Project that requires the affected persons to move to another location.

Economic displacement involves the loss of income streams or means of livelihood resulting from land acquisition or obstructed access to economic resources (land, water, forest) resulting from the construction or operation of the Project or its associated facilities.

A comprehensive resettlement action plan has been designed jointly to cover Area 1 and Area 4, however the implementation and operation of this plan is being led by the Area 1 operator.

View the Resettlement Action Plan →