Anam rejects Pimsa EIS for Rodman cement plant

Anam rejects Pimsa EIS for Rodman cement plant
04 April 2007


Panama’s national environment ministry Anam has rejected an environmental impact study (EIS) from Rodman port’s operating consortium, Parque Industrial Marítimo (Pimsa), to build a cement plant at the port, local press reported.


Anam rejected the document on the grounds that while it has been established that the cement plant would have an indirect environmental impact at all points within 5km, the document’s descriptions only cover an area within 2.5km of the plant, local daily Crítica en Línea reported.


The study also omitted how the plant would impact vegetation on San Juan hill, which will be affected by particles emitted from the plant into the air, according to the paper.


In response, Pimsa will submit a new document, in which all of Anam’s doubts are addressed, the paper quoted Pimsa director Luis Moreno III as saying.


While the current project was rejected, the plant could also be built at another location, local daily La Prensa quoted Anam administrator Ligia de Doens as saying.


Pimsa has proposed investment of US$220m in 12 projects at the port, located on the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, BNamericas reported previously.


The consortium plans to invest in the development of an industrial centre at the port.


The works will be carried out alongside Singaporean port operator PSA International’s plans to invest US$100m to build a new terminal at the port, which will include the construction of a new dock and container storage facility.


The US navy originally built the port, but it is now used to refuel ships and handle bulk shipments such as liquid and grain products.

Published under Cement News