US$5.5M agro-processing project earmarked for WBD

…EPA waives environmental impact study for facility

A privately owned agro-processing facility that is earmarked for the West Bank of Demerara (WBD), has been exempted from requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), with the agency noting that the project is unlikely to have any significant impact on the surrounding environment.
Based on details provided by the investor in the project documents, the agro-processing facility in question is being built by the Essential Foods Group Incorporated (EFG) in Canal Number One, WBD.
It was explained that the project, which is being built on 10 acres of land that was previously used for rice cultivation, will see a rice mill and agro-processing facility being constructed as part of a total US$5.5 Million investment. Expressing an intention to partner with local rice farmers, the developers have also set themselves an ambitious target of processing 120,000 metric tons of paddy annually.
“To ensure seamless operations and efficient management, the project will employ a dedicated workforce of roughly 25 full-time operational staff supported by an additional 25 full-time administrative personnel.”
“With a strategic focus on productivity and output, EFG aims to process 120,000 metric tons of paddy annually, meeting market demands while maintaining consistent, high-quality output. This framework enables efficient resource management, optimized production capacities, and the upholding of the excellence expected from our operations,” the developers stated.
While the Gas-to-Energy pipelines, which run from the Stabroek block offshore Guyana to Wales, WBD, are between 400 and 500 metres away from the project, the developer assured that neither would interfere with each other’s operations.
“The EFG Region 3 Agro-Processing project was designed with a primary emphasis on practicality and functionality, ensuring its design seamlessly integrates with its intended purpose. The project prioritizes green solutions, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability by leveraging environmentally friendly approaches to minimize adverse impacts.”
“Additionally, the project incorporates effective and efficient measures to combat all forms of pollution, reflecting a conscientious effort to address and mitigate risks associated with environmental degradation,” the developer stated.

EIA
Meanwhile the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a recent notice, waived the need for the EIA on the grounds that the project was determined not to have a significant effect on the environment.
As such, the regulator said that an EIA would not be necessary. For instance, it was pointed out by the EPA that the site is not close to any sensitive ecosystems and that no hazardous materials and waste would be stored on the site.
As a matter of fact, any waste produced by the operation will be reused or disposed of, in accordance with regulatory approved methods. For instance, paddy husk will be used to power the furnace, while on the other hand bran and broken rice will be processed into rice oil, wax, protein and bran.
“The proposed site for the facility has been deemed appropriate for the activity by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and it is not located within close proximity of similar activities that may contribute to any cumulative impacts.”
“Effluent generated from the facility’s operations will primarily consist of water from rice polishing process. To ensure efficient resource utilization, the water from the rice polishing process will be repurposed for landscaping and irrigation of shrubbery,” EPA also explained.
Further, the agency pointed out that based on the plans submitted, any noise and vibrations will be reduced by the use of mufflers and silencers, as well as an impervious surface being set up to reduce vibration emissions.
That being said, EPA made it clear that waiving of the EIA does not mean the project has been approved and they further invited the public to appeal the decision if the proposed project will affect them, within 30 days of the published notice. (G3)