Emmerson Plc has commenced the full environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) study for its Khemisset potash project in northern Morocco. The ESIA is a key component of all future permitting workstreams, as outlined in the Emmerson’s permitting roadmap. The ESIA will be completed in partnership with Moroccan headquartered firm Phénixa S.A.R.L. (Phénixa), which has been integral in all environmental and social studies carried out at Khemisset to date.
The ESIA will include multiple studies on the existing area, and the final report will conclude any forecast impacts from the Project, and proposed mitigation measures, on 1. existing land uses and social settings; 2. flora and fauna; 3. air quality and noise; 4. climate, topography & elevation; 5. surface water and ground water; 6. archaeology, anthropology, and cultural heritage sites. “The commencement of the full ESIA is a vital step in our preparation for submitting applications for permits,” Hayden Locke, CEO of Emmerson, commented. “Once we have a report detailing all environmental and social impact risks, alongside our forthcoming Feasibility Study, we will have all information required to commence discussions in earnest with Moroccan Authorities.”
The Emmerson’s CEO also stressed that “the ESIA is also a vital component of discussions with financiers, many of whom have already expressed approval for our commitment to complying with international best practice. … Alongside the ESIA, our Feasibility Study continues to progress well and is currently ahead of schedule. We look forward to continuing to keep the market updated with various parts of the study as we progress towards its final release during the first half of 2020.”
