Environmental & Social Review Summary
Project Number
8164
Company Name
Core Pharmsanoat
Date ESRS Disclosed
Feb 5, 2010
Country
Uzbekistan
Region
Central Asia and Turkiye
Last Updated Date
Dec 31, 2016
Environmental Category
B - Limited
Status
Completed
Previous Events
Approved : Jun 30, 1997
Signed : Oct 1, 1997
Invested : Apr 17, 1998
Sector
Pharmaceuticals and Medicine
Industry
Health, Education and Life Sciences
Department
Regional Industry MAS MCT
Project Description
Environmental Review Summary (ERS)
Project Name Uzbekistan: Core Pharm Sanoat
Region Central Asia
Sector Manufacturing
Project No. 008164
April 25, 1997
1. This project involves the establishing of a plant for the production of 6.0 million plastic bottles per year of intravenous fluid (IV) and 240 million tablets per year of generic drug formulations, to mainly serve the local market in Uzbekistan. The Uzbek joint venture company is majority owned by Core Healthcare Limited, a major player in the pharmaceutical industry in India. Local partners are UzFarmProm, the state pharmaceutical association, and two of its affiliates. The project will be located in an existing building, 6 km from the city center in Tashkent, and employment will be about 180 personnel.
2. IV production will use a specialized technology that involves forming, filling, sealing, and coding of the IV fluids in a single stage operation. The bottles are extruded from special medium density polyethylene pellets which will be imported. After the bottles are made, they will be sterilized in a super heated water shower sterilizer at 109 C. Drugs will be produced in tablet form using imported packaging and drug formulations. Steam will be used for drying of mixed drugs, which will then be formed into tablets and packaged in blister packs.
3. 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, and the technical appraisal and site review completed by IFC’s Technical and Environment Department staff. The following potential environmental, health and safety impacts of the project were analyzed:
· air emissions;
· adequacy and quality of water supply;
· liquid effluent treatment;
· solid and hazardous waste handling and disposal;
· potential site contamination from present or past uses;
· fire prevention and emergency response; and
· workplace air quality, noise and safety.
The sponsor has presented plans to address these issues and demonstrate 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. There will be no air emissions directly resulting from the plant. The project will use steam services which are contracted through an existing facility located near the site and which uses natural gas as an energy source. The project design does not envisage the use of a standby diesel generator, as reliable and sufficient electrical power is available from the national grid.
5. Water for the plant will come from the municipal system through an existing connection. Water used for intravenous fluids will be further filtered, multiply distilled and tested onsite prior to use.
6. An estimated 20 m3/day of process effluent, domestic sewage and contaminated storm water will go to the municipal sewer and centralized municipal waste treatment plant for which there is an existing connection at the site. Pretreatment of collected effluent will be performed at the plant. Based on the company’s experience manufacturing similar products in India the discharges are expected to meet the municipality’s permissible limits and World Bank guidelines prior to discharge to the sewer. The plant will employ water conservation measures such as the use of a spray ball in mixing vessels to minimize water losses during cleaning, and the reuse in toilets of distilled water after rinsing of mixing vessels.
7. The major liquid used in the project is water, and there will be only incidental uses of solvents and hazardous liquids for maintenance purposes. Conventional solid waste will be either recycled or disposed of in accordance with local requirements. The company will implement safe disposal of waste, off-spec, and surplus IV fluids and drug tablets that will prevent their sale or use.
8. An existing 5,000 m2 three story building in Tashkent will be modified for the project, including the installation of specialized air conditioning systems. The seven year old building was originally constructed for pharmaceutical production by the adjacent Research Institute, but has never been used. Potential site contamination from present or past uses is considered unlikely.
9. The building has a pressurized water fire protection system with hoses at strategic locations. Dry chemical fire extinguishers will be provided for protection against electrical fires. The building has six emergency exits.
10. Personnel are to be trained for health, sanitation and safety, especially in materials handling and repairs in confined areas. The company will implement a detailed safety manual, similar to the one used in its facilities in India, which will encompass emergency detection, fire fighting, medical care, and general safety. Personal protective equipment (i.e., dust masks, eye protection, hearing protection) will be provided when required by workplace conditions. The highest level of noise in the project would be in the tablet production section where it is not expected to exceed 80 dBA.
11. Based on its review of available information regarding potential environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures, IFC concludes that the proposed project is being designed to meet Government of Uzbekistan requirements, and World Bank policies, and environmental, health and safety guidelines.
12. IFC will monitor Core Pharm’s ongoing compliance with World Bank policies and guidelines during the life of the project by evaluating monitoring reports submitted annually to IFC by the sponsor and by conducting periodic site reviews during project supervision.
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April 25, 1997 4:07 PM
Environmental and Social Mitigation Measures
Broad Community Support
Related SII
