Project Name NIGERIA – Ansbby Nigeria Limited

Region Sub-Saharan Africa

Sector Oil Refining

Project No. 008821

Projected Board Date June 21, 1998

Company Name Ansbby Nigeria Limited

Technical Partner and/or Major Shareholders:  Ansbby Nigeria Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ansbby Group, was incorporated in 1987.  The Ansbby Group is involved in diverse business activities that include mechanical engineering, civil engineering, transportation and trading.  Its principal line of business is procurement, supply and installation of (1) telecommunication and electrical instruments and accessories; (2) mechanical equipment and fittings; and (3) general contracting.  In the last nine years, Ansbby has rendered services to the oil industry especially in the areas of swamp operations and telecommunications.  Ansbby is owned by Mr. Uwakwe, an engineer by training.  He owns and managers several businesses under the Ansbby Group.

Project Cost including proposed IFC Investment:  N 22 million (US$250,000 equivalent); IFC is requested to provide a loan of US$100,000 to part-finance the acquisition of equipment for the plant.

Location of Project and Description of Site:  The Company is located in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

Description of Company and Purpose of Project:  Ansbby Nigeria Limited (Ansbby, the company) proposes to set up a domestic gas (LPG) filling plant at Port Harcourt.  The Nigerian Government is encouraging the use of gas for domestic uses and industrial uses as an alternative to avoid cutting down of trees and degradation of the environment.  The Government is encouraging private sector to play a role.  With the proposed plant, Ansbby will further diversify into manufacturing and expand its income base.  Proposed installed capacity is 175,000 liters.  The bottling process is simple; it involves filling repressurized gas into high-pressure domestic gas bottles through filling nozzles.  The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NNPC) is currently the sole producer of LPG. IFC will help further develop a small indigenous entrepreneur in a sector dominated by large multinationals and vital to the economy.

Environmental Category and Issues:  This is an environmental review category B project; principal issues involve site location, air emissions, liquid effluents, hazardous material risk assessment, solid and hazardous waste disposal, employee training and fire protection.  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 plant will be located in an industrial area.  The surrounding vegetation is composed of shrubs, and some scattered palm trees.  Ansbby will ensure that the air emissions generated will be appropriately controlled to comply with World Bank guidelines.  All industrial waters generated will be reused thus, there will not be release of industrial effluents to the environment.  Sanitary sewage will be collected in septic tanks.  Industrial solid waste will be treated to comply with World Bank guidelines.  Domestic solid waste will be properly disposed of according to local regulations.  The sponsor will conduct hazard and risk assessments to identify, characterize and safely manage any present or future potential environmental hazard of Ansbby products and operations.  The sponsor will also prepare a comprehensive gas leak/spills prevention and contingency plans.  The company will install gas leak detectors, alarm systems, and fire prevention equipment including fire hydrants, stand pipe and bar, water hoses, water spray projector systems and gas/CO2 detectors.  The sponsor jointly with the State Fire Service Board will provide comprehensive fire prevention and fire safety training to the employees and will have periodic fire drills.

The Environmental Review Summary is available from the Infoshop.

Date SPI sent to PIC: May 21, 1998

“This Summary of Project Information is prepared and distributed to the public in advance of consideration of the proposed transaction by the Corporation’s Board of Directors.  It is provided for the purpose of enhancing the transparency of IFC’s activities and should not be construed as presuming the outcome of IFC Board consideration.”

For additional information contact:  Corporate Relations Unit
Telephone:  (202) 473-7711
Facsimile:  (202) 676-0365
















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May 18, 1998 11:26 AM
Environmental documents for this project are available at http://www.ifc.org and from the World Bank InfoShop (http://www.worldbank.org/html/pic/aboutinfo.html).