PROJECT

Projects

Environmental & Social Review Summary

Project Number

30417

Company Name

Braskem Idesa, S.A.P.I.

Date ESRS Disclosed

Dec 1, 2011

Country

Mexico

Region

Latin America and the Caribbean

Last Updated Date

Dec 12, 2021

Environmental Category

A - Significant

Status

Completed

Previous Events

Approved : May 17, 2012
Signed : Dec 19, 2012
Invested : Jul 24, 2013

Sector

Petrochemical

Industry

Manufacturing

Department

Regional Industry MAS LAC & EUR

Project Description

Etileno XXI (the Project) is the result of a joint venture between Brazilian (Braskem) and Mexican (Idesa) chemical companies incorporated as Braskem Idesa S.A.P.I. (B-I, the Company) for the development, construction and commercial operation of an integrated petrochemical complex in the state of Veracruz in Mexico. The project includes the construction and operation of the following facilities:
an ethane cracker, with a nominal capacity of approximately one million tonnes per annum (tpa) of ethylene production,
a high density polyethylene (HDPE) plant with a capacity of approximately 400 thousand tpa,
a HDPE plant with a capacity of approximately 350 thousand tpa, and
a low density polyethylene plant (LDPE) with a capacity of approximately 300 thousand tpa.

The ethylene to be produced at the cracker will be used as raw material for the three polyethylene plants.

The facilities will be located in the municipality of Nanchital de Lázaro Cárdenas del Rio, in the state of Veracruz (southeast Mexico) 3.5 km east of the city of Nanchital (27000 inhabitants) approximately 2.5 km south of the PEMEX Cangrejera Petrochemical Complex; in close proximity to the PEMEX Pajaritos Maritime Terminal, on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico; and 7 km southeast of the city of Coatzacoalcos (305,000 inhabitants) in the municipality of Coatzacoalcos, which is the main petrochemical producing region in Mexico. There are several other petrochemical and chemical plants in the area such as PEMEX Petroquímica Morelos, Celanese Mexicana, Grupo Petroquímico Beta, Clariant Mexico, IDESA, INNOPHOS, IQUISA and others.

Seven small rural communities are located within 5 km radius). The members of these communities are familiar with industrial installations as they are in municipalities whose primary economic activity is derived from petrochemical industries.

The size of the project land parcel is 192 ha, of which, the project will use 61%. 9% of the area will be used during construction and then revegetated, with a further 16% (30 ha) set aside as a permanent conservation area. The remaining 14 % is already used by right of ways of PEMEX pipelines located within the project site but not related to the project.

Out of the total 180,000 barrels per day (b/d) of ethane that PEMEX currently produces, all in the Coatzacoalcos area, it only uses 88,000 b/d in its own petrochemical facilities. The remaining ethane is reinjected back into its gas production operations to be sold as fuel. However, with this project, PEMEX will provide Etileno XXI with 66,000 b/d (36%) of the ethane currently sold as fuel for the production of ethylene and ultimately polyethylene. The project is strategically located in close proximity to the PEMEX installations to facilitate the access to ethane. PEMEX will install an 800 m underground pipeline to furnish the 66,000 b/d of ethane needed for the Etileno XXI project.

The following additional infrastructure will be built to support the Project
an underground 3.7 km pipeline to source water from the PEMEX La Cangrejera water system located to the north of the project site;
an underground 1.6 km pipeline for ethylene from a distance less than 1 km from the site fence line; as alternate ethylene supply from the PEMEX facility, to the polyethylene plants;
an underground 1.6 km pipeline for natural gas to be supplied from PEMEX at a connecting pipeline located 1 km distant to the south of the project site; and
a 5 km electricity transmission line from the substation that will furnish 400 MW.

Ethane cracker technology is licensed from Technip, a worldwide leader in engineering, project management and technologies, serving the chemical, oil & gas industry for more than 50 years. HDPE technology is from INEOS, one of the largest chemical companies in the world; while LDPE technology is licensed from LyondellBasell, the world’s third-largest independent chemical company. The company has also hired Odebrecht-ICA Fluor as the contractors for the site preparation and construction phases. The EPC contracting for the construction and installation will be conducted by a joint venture between Technip and Odebrecht-ICA Fluor.

The construction phase of the project is planned to start during the second quarter of 2012 and last for about three years with an expected workforce of up to 8,000 people during the peak period. The plant is expected to begin operation in 2015. The project will manage the environmental and social impacts in accordance to international good practice.

Overview of IFC's Scope of Review

IFC’s appraisal reviewed the Company’s Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS), social and labor management capabilities (i.e., assessment, planning, implementation, etc.) and its ability to ensure compliance with Mexican regulatory requirements and IFC’s Performance Standards during the construction and operation of the Project. Specific items reviewed included: (a) existing Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), related Studies and Reports, and corresponding Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMPs) Frameworks; (b) human resources policies and management of the Company, its contractors and subcontractors, (c) the Stakeholder Engagement Plan.

IFC conducted a site visit to the proposed project site in October 2011. The visit included interviews with the Company’s project management team including EHS staff, with the site preparation and construction management Contractor, representatives of the nearby Jaguaroundi National Preserve Natural Park, PEMEX representatives in charge of raw materials supply and E&S aspects related to the project, and representatives of the SEMARNAT (Mexican environmental authorities). During the site visit, the team visited the site, Jaguaroundi National Preserve Natural Park, and nearby locations. The team also met with representatives of the two key municipalities and approximately 200 members of the 5 communities closest to the project.

E & S Project Categorization and Applicable Standard

Environmental and Social Mitigation Measures

Stakeholder Engagement

Client Documentation

File Name Actions
Environmental and Social Action Plan.pdf
ESIA Vol. 1 Capitulo_1-Capitulo_4.pdf
ESIA Vol. 2 Capitulo 5.pdf
ESIA Vol. 3. Capitulo_6-Captiulo_11.pdf
ESIA Vol. 4 Anexos 1 y 2.pdf
ESIA Vol. 5 Anexo 3 a 5.3 .pdf
ESIA Vol. 6 Anexos 5.4 a 5.9.pdf
ESIA Vol. 7 Anexos 5.10 a 5.14.pdf
ESIA Vol. 8 Anexos 5.15 a 5.18.pdf
ESIA Vol. 9 Anexos 6 y 7 .pdf
ESIA Vol. 10 Anexos 8.1 a 8.16 .pdf
ESIA Vol. 11 Anexos 8.17 a 8.23.9 .pdf
ESIA Vol. 12 Anexos 8.23.10 a 9 .pdf
ESIA Vol. 13 Executive Summary.pdf