Castle Peak Power Company Limited (CAPCO), a joint
venture between CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP) and ExxonMobil Energy Limited
(EMEL), is proposing the development of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Receiving
Terminal in the Hong Kong SAR. CLP is
the operator of CAPCO's power generating facilities. The facility will provide the infrastructure
for a sustainable supply of natural gas (NG) for Hong Kong, primarily to fuel
CAPCO’s power plant at Black Point but other energy users in
The Government’s environmental policy includes the
control of emissions from the existing power stations in
1.2
Purpose and Nature of
the Project
The Project will provide a replacement for the gas
currently supplied to CAPCO from the Yacheng gas field, which is expected to be
depleted by early in the next decade.
The project involves the construction and operation of a LNG receiving
terminal and associated facilities at either
The following elements of the Project addressed in
this EIA Report are classified as Designated Projects under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance
(Cap. 499) (EIAO).
For both the
·
Construction
of a storage facility for LNG with a storage capacity of more than 200 tonnes
(item L.2 of Part I of Schedule 2 of EIAO);
·
Dredging operation for the approach
channel and turning circle that exceeds 500,000 m3 (item C.12 of Part I of Schedule 2 of EIAO).
For the
·
Installation
of a submarine gas pipeline connecting the proposed LNG terminal at the
·
Dredging
operation for the installation of a submarine power cable connecting Shek Pik
with the proposed LNG
terminal at South Soko which is less than 500m from the nearest boundary
of an existing Site of Cultural Heritage (item C.12(a) of Part I of Schedule 2 of EIAO); and,
·
Potential dredging operation for the installation
of a submarine water main connecting Shek Pik Reservoir with the proposed LNG terminal at South
Soko which is less than 500m from the nearest boundary of an existing Site of
Cultural Heritage (item C.12(a) of Part I of Schedule 2 of EIAO).
For the Black Point option only:
·
Reclamation
works (including associated dredging works) of more than 5 ha in size (item
C.1 of Part I of Schedule 2 of EIAO).
This report is prepared by ERM-Hong Kong, Ltd (ERM)
in accordance with the EIA Study Brief
(No. ESB-126/2005) and the Technical
Memorandum of the Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM).
CAPCO conducted a study as early as in 1992 ([2])
to examine the optimum
approach to provide a long term secure and reliable supply of natural gas to Hong
Kong and in 2003 initiated site search studies ([3])
to examine the most suitable
locations for the LNG terminal.
CAPCO commenced discussions with the members of the
Environmental Study Management Group (ESMG) ([4])
in September 2004 to explain
the site selection process and outline a way forward. The ESMG was represented by a range of
Government departments on an administrative, advisory basis, to help CAPCO
understand the requirements under the EIA Ordinance on environmental,
conservation, gas and fire safety, planning, marine and land aspects.
Over a two year period, a number of assessments were
undertaken in consultation with the ESMG members to further determine the
feasibility of constructing and operating a LNG terminal at either of the two
selected sites (
At the same time, CAPCO commenced a dialogue with
other key stakeholders including Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) and community
groups to seek feedback on their proposals and factor some of the issues raised
into the design plans prior to commencing the formal EIAO process. More than 350 seminars, meetings, workshops
and exhibitions were held in the past 18 months ([5]).
The outcome ([6])
of the discussions with
Government and other stakeholders was that the two sites would be taken forward
into the formal EIAO process and an
EIA Study conducted on each.
1.4
Community Consultation
and Engagement
Over the course of the project, CAPCO has engaged a
wide range of stakeholders, to obtain their input to the assessment and
selection of a preferred site for the LNG terminal.
Stakeholders representing government departments,
advisory and statutory bodies, local community groups, NGO’s, District
Councils, Rural Committees, political parties and professional organisations
have participated in briefings, workshops and site visits. These interactions have facilitated CAPCO’s
understanding of the concerns of the project stakeholders and contributed to
the project’s design evolution which has enhanced its overall environmental
performance. Site specific feedback is
discussed in Section 2 of Part 2 and
Part 3 of this EIA Report.
Stakeholders expressed their input on a wide range of
issues; security of supply, the environmental benefits of natural gas as a fuel
for power generation, the site selection process, safety of LNG transport and
storage, effects on tariff, and environmental impacts such as marine and
terrestrial ecology, fisheries, and landscape and visual aspects. Their input assisted in guiding the progress
of the EIA, and its presentation in this report ([7])
.
Since the consultation activities for the LNG
terminal project began in September 2004, CAPCO’s engagement activities have
included:
·
Ten
familiarisation visits to the sites at Black Point and South Soko attended by
ACE members, LegCo members, political party representatives, NGO’s, and the
media.
·
Four
Engagement Workshops attended by 10 different NGO groups attending one or more
workshops.
·
Individual
meetings with NGO / Green Group representatives.
·
Briefings
for local political bodies, politicians, LegCo members and the Advisory Council
on the Environment.
·
Briefings
to professional bodies such as the committee members of the Environmental
Division and Electrical Division of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.
·
A
series of discussion sessions with representatives of the South Soko
Fishermen’s Groups and the Tung Chung residents representatives.
·
Briefings
have been provided to the Island District and Tuen Mun District councils, the Heung
Yee Kuk, the Tuen Mun and the Tai O Rural Committee.
·
Briefings
have been provided to Britcham, AMCHAM, HK General Chamber of commerce.
·
Individual
responses to written submissions.
·
A
telephone enquiry hotline (tel. 2678 8189) and an electronic feedback area on a
designated LNG project website (www.clpgroup.com/environment/lng).
·
A roving
exhibition have been organised at Tuen Mun, Mongkok and Tung Chung.
To encourage wider understanding of the project,
brochures in English and Chinese were prepared and distributed, and a short
video “Cleaner Fuel for Cleaner Air” was uploaded onto the CLP corporate
website and shown in CLP customer Service Centres. Information fliers were also distributed to
all CLP customers through electricity bill inserts.
1.5
Purpose of this EIA Report
The purpose of this EIA Study is to provide
information on the nature and extent of environmental impacts arising from the
construction and operation of the Project and related activities that take
place concurrently. This information
will contribute to decisions by the Director of the Environmental Protection
Department on:
·
The overall acceptability of any
adverse environmental consequences that are to arise as a result of the Project
and the associated activities of the Project;
·
The conditions and requirements for
the detailed design, construction and operation of the Project to mitigate
against adverse environmental consequences; and
·
The acceptability of residual impacts
after the proposed mitigation measures are implemented.
The detailed requirements of the EIA studies of each
site are set out in the EIA Study Brief in
Section 2.1.
As specified in the EIA Study Brief, the respective
EIAs have addressed the key environmental issues associated with the
construction and operation of the Project.
These key issues are discussed further in Part 2 and 3 of this EIA
Report.
1.6
The Structure of this
Report
This EIA
Report comprises the following Parts and Sections.
|
PART 1 |
MAIN INTRODUCTION |
|
Section 1 |
Presents the
introduction to this EIA Report and the background to this Study. |
|
Section 2 |
Provides
information relating to the need for a LNG terminal in |
|
Section 3 |
Presents
information on what the development of a LNG terminal in |
|
Section 4 |
Presents
information on the consideration of alternative sites for locating a LNG
terminal within |
|
PART 2 |
EIA OF |
|
PART 3 |
EIA OF BLACK POINT (see table of contents therein) |
|
PART 4 |
SITE PREFERENCE (see table of contents therein) |
In addition to the EIA Report there is a separate
Executive Summary and Environmental Monitoring and Audit Manuals for
([1]) For the South Soko option will require the installation of a submarine electricity circuit to
provide power for the terminal. The South Soko option may
also require the installation of a submarine water main connection to the Shek
Pik Reservoir on Lantau Island. The need
for this water main connection will not be determined until later in the design
process; however, it has been included in this Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA) in case it is required.