Project Name MEXICO: Commercializadora La Junta Marine Terminal

Region Latin America and Caribbean

Sector Infrastructure

Project No. 007904 March 20, 1997


1. This project, located in Manzanillo (Mexico’s Pacific coast), involves the construction of a specialized marine terminal for handling grains. Storage capacity will be 100,000 mt of grain located on a 4.2 hectare site granted by the Port Authority of Manzanillo. The sponsors are Mr. Julio Cesar Gomez, a Mexican businessman, and Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, a diversified Canadian agribusiness company.

2. This is a category B project according to IFC’s environmental review procedure because specific impacts may result which can be avoided or mitigated by adhering to generally recognized performance standards, guidelines or design criteria. The review of this project consisted of appraising technical and environmental information submitted by the project sponsor. The following potential environmental, health and safety impacts of the project were analyzed:

dredging and disposal of dredged materials;
· air emissions and dust control;
· effluent treatment and disposal;
· stormwater drainage and treatment;
solid waste management;
· spill prevention;
· bilge waste effluent monitoring;
protection of marine water resources;
· hazardous materials handling and disposal;
general employee safety;
fire and explosion prevention;
emergency response; and
employee exposure to noise, dust and hazardous materials.

3. The sponsor has presented plans to address these issues and demonstrate that the proposed project will comply with applicable governmental and World Bank requirements. The information provided about how these potential impacts are addressed in the development of the project is summarized in the paragraphs that follow.

4. The site is located 56.5 meters behind an existing concrete wharf that is pile supported on pre-cast concrete piling. The soil at the site is hydraulic filled sand that was reclaimed from the harbor in front of the dock and placed on this site over a deep layer of sand and organic sediment which limits the soil bearing capacity. The existing site is relatively level with the elevation at the site varying less than one meter from high to low point. The mean elevation level of the site is about 2.5 meters in relationship to “zero” . The east edge of the existing dock is at elevation 3.52 meters. Some of the facilities will be constructed with a ground elevation of 4.0 meters requiring a significant amount of engineered fill to raise the elevation. The engineered fill will help spread the load from the buildings.

5. The facility will use high efficiency bag houses to reduce dust emissions at the facility. There will be 14 separate dust control systems. The control systems will be installed on the ship unloader, the receiving scales, the conveyors, the bucket elevators, the storage domes and the rail and truck loading spouts. The material recovered in the bag houses will be returned to the product stream. The facility will comply with the local regulations and the World Bank air emission guidelines. In addition, there will be periodic watering during construction to reduce dust emissions.

6. A pluvial drainage will be constructed and will be connected to the port drainage. The facility will only generate domestic sewage. The sewage will be discharged directly to the municipal sewage system. The domestic solid waste generated will be collected and appropriately disposed in the municipal dump-site. The construction wastes will be handled and disposed according to the local regulations. A local permit prior to disposing these wastes is required.

7. Only noise levels below 50 dBA will be generated. These levels are below the World Bank guidelines.

8. Comercializadora La Junta Marine Terminal is committed to operating the terminal in accordance with international and governmental regulations for port operations and protection of the environment. The ships wastes and domestic sewage will be handled according to the port regulations ensuring that no effluents will be directly released to the marine waters. Machinery fuel dispensing and maintenance will take place in assigned areas. These areas will be adequately managed to avoid hazardous materials spills. Fueling of vessels will not be conducted at the terminal.

9. The sponsor will have a strict training program in place. Employees will be trained in accident prevention, in the proper safety procedures for terminal operations and in how best to respond to earthquakes, hurricanes, flood, and fire. The facilities will have all necessary equipment to respond to any of these events. There will be a trained fire brigade available at all times. Personnel protective equipment will be provided to employees potentially exposed to dust and hazardous materials.

10. The operations will have sensors installed and will be controlled by a central panel. The facility will operate with electrical power generated by a 13.2 KV transmission line. All electrical devices will be rated for hazardous location duty. The electrical devices located outdoors will be rated for waterproof duty. The electrical equipment room and central control areas will be pressurized and filtered to prevent the entrance of dust and thereby eliminating dust hazards. The facility will install audible and visual emergency alarms throughout the installations. Lighting and signaling in and around the facility will be also provided.

11. Based on the review of the available information regarding potential environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures, IFC concludes that the proposed project is being designed to meet Government of Mexico requirements, and World Bank policies, and environmental, health and safety guidelines.

12. IFC will monitor Comercializadora La Junta Marine Terminal’s ongoing compliance with World Bank policies and guidelines during the life of the project by evaluating the environmental performance reports submitted annually (coinciding with the anniversary of the signing of the investment agreement) to IFC by the sponsor and by conducting periodic site reviews during project supervision.





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April 1, 1997 4:25 PM