EIA and Project Life Cycle

When should an EIA be carried out?

"Conventional Way of Running a Project"

• Level of attention to environmental issues/problems during project concept and planning stage is low.
• Environmental problems are often identified at late stage of the project life cycle, such as detailed design and construction stage, with limited solution space.

Problems Encountered

Late focus might affect the overall project programme.

Conventional Approach of running a Project

Solution space decreases over time in project planning hence a need for earlyfocus

[Chart of Conventional Approach of running a Project]

"Recommended Approach"

Early dialogue and involvement - Need for a Mindset Change

[Chart of Recommended Approach]

There is a need to increase the level of attention during early stage of a project so as to avoid environmental problems.

INTERACTION OF THE EIA MECHANISM WITH PROJECT LIFE CYCLE

The figure on the right illustrates when and how an EIA can contribute positively to the project progress.

[Chart of EIA and project life cycle]

• Early consideration of environmental issues helps reducing uncertainties or delay of project at later stage.
• EIA is a tool to identify alternative solution or design measures to avoid or minimise problems especially in project conceptual stage.
• The statutory EIAO procedure is only a part of the EIA process. There are other requirements such as Town Planning Ordinance and Lands Ordinance that need to be considered during project development.

Benefits of early consideration of environmental issues during the project cycle

Case Study

1,800MW Gas-fired Power Station at Lamma Extension

There was a proposal in mid-90's to develop a new 1,800MW power station in Hong Kong to meet the electricity demand in the 21st century.

Before the statutory EIA, a site search was carried out to identify alternative sites for the power station to avoid environmental problems.

In parallel with the site search, a study on alternative fuels technologies, i.e. coal-fired vs gas-fired plant was also conducted.

Alternative fuels (coal-fired and gas-fired), power generation technologies and designs options were also evaluated as part of the EIA study.

In the site search, 17 alternative sites were longlisted, 6 sites were then shortlisted for detailed comparative assessment.

[Map of Hong Kong]

The EIA study concluded that the preferred site for the new power station is an extension to Lamma Power Station and the preferred fuel is natural gas.

[Chart of Performance of Plant Switching from coal-fired units to gas-fired units]

EIA recommendation :
Adoption of alternative fuel to avoid and reduce pollution loads.

EIA recommendation :
The sharing of facilities and services with the existing Lamma Power Station reduced reclamation.

Better EIA process by means of avoiding environmental problems and consulting public at the early planning stage.