The Project Sponsor and majority shareholder of Gaselia is Mr. Madiou Simpara, a 58-year old Malian businessperson with a diversified portfolio of activities. Mr. Simpara started out in the 1980s as a trader of automobile spare parts before expanding into importation and distribution of other products (textiles, hydrocarbons and home appliances), commercial real estate and into the beverage sector in 2002 with Gaselia.

IFC will provide up to €13 million in the form of a senior A loan and mobilize an additional €11 million to partially finance the approximately €35 million investment program of Gaselia.

This is a Category B project according to IFC’s Policy on Environmental and Social Sustainability, because potential adverse environmental or social risks and/or impacts are limited, few in numbers, site-specific, largely reversible and readily addressed through mitigating measures aligned to generally recognized performance standards, guidelines, or design criteria.

The project will have two phases covering construction and operation activities, with specific E&S risks associated to these. Key E&S issues during construction include: i) occupational health and safety (OHS), ii) dust emission, noise, and vibration from vehicle transit and earth moving activities, as well as iii) the potential for soil erosion and associated land and surface water pollution. These impacts are expected to be temporary and will be minimized via implementation of the construction E&S management plan. Key risks and issues during exploitation relate to the company’s capacity to: i) adequately manage environmental and social impacts of the company’s operation and expansion; ii) maintain fair, safe and healthy working conditions for direct employees as well as for contract workers; iii) assess the availability of water for the new project, and implement measures to ensure efficiency and sustainability; iv) establish and maintain internationally acceptable food safety standards (e.g. HACCP) in preparation, storage, delivery of food products and beverage; v) manage solid waste and effluents in line with good international industry practice.