Uruguay: Orion-02/Gualeguaychu

Date Filed
05 Aug 2009
Status
Closed
Phase
Dispute Resolution (DR), Compliance
Country
Uruguay

Case Tracker

Eligibility
Eligibility
Assessment
Transferred
Assessment
Dispute Resolution
Compliance
Appraisal
Closed
CURRENT Status
Appraisal (COMPLIANCE)
Closed

Complaint Overview

Complainant

Environmental Civic Assembly of Gualeguaychú (Assamblea Ciudadana Ambiental de Gualeguaychú), Argentina

Cross-Cutting Issues
Community Health and Safety Air Water

Project Information

Region
Latin America & the Caribbean
Institution
IFC
Name & Number
Orion 23817
Company
Botnia S.A.
Sector
Manufacturing
Department
Manufacturing, Agribusiness & Services
Category
A
Commitment

up to $200 million in A & B loans

Synopsis

Complaint

The Orion project is a greenfield eucalyptus kraft pulp mill in Uruguay, adjacent to the international boundary between Uruguay and Argentina. This complaint was submitted by the Environmental Civic Assembly of Gualeguaychú, an Argentine civic association/non-governmental organization that represents the interest of residents of Gualeguaychú.  It raises concerns about the environmental monitoring of the project and its’ credibility regarding odors and air emissions emanating from the plants, water pollution, impacts to community health, and trans-border issues. Furthermore, complainants argue that what they feared as potential impacts are currently being manifested and experienced across the international boundary. This is the second complaint CAO received regarding this project. The first was filed in September 2005 by the Centre for Human Rights and Environment, an Argentine non-governmental organization.

CAO Action

The Ombudsman assessment involved interviews with key stakeholders, and reviewed of current status of this case in other international fora. Based on the information provided by both parties during the assessment period, CAO Ombudsman concluded that the situation was not amenable to joint fact finding, mediation or alternative dispute resolution approaches. In January 2010, the case was transferred to CAO Compliance for appraisal.

Status

CAO released the appraisal on March 15, 2010, with the following findings:

• Emissions to air and water have been thoroughly addressed by IFC during the assessment phase, and the monitoring and reporting demonstrate that IFC assured itself of the Project’s performance against applicable requirements.

• There is no indication that IFC did not assure itself that the independent verification of the monitoring fulfills the applicable IFC requirement.

• There are no indications that IFC failed to assure itself of the applicability of OP 7.50.

• This case does not fulfill the criteria for further investigation in the form of an audit.

CAO has closed appraisal of this case with no further action.

Case Documents

  • Complaint
    Complaint with Annexes
    Aug 05, 2009
    English
    Complaint with Annexes
    Reclamo
    Aug 05, 2009
    Spanish
    Reclamo
    Anexo 1
    Jan 30, 2008
    Spanish
    Anexo 1
    Anexo 2
    Jan 30, 2008
    Spanish
    Anexo 2
    Assessment Report(s)
    Ombudsman Assessment Report
    Dec 01, 2009
    English
    Ombudsman Assessment Report
    Informe de Evaluacion del Ombudsman
    Dec 01, 2009
    Spanish
    Informe de Evaluacion del Ombudsman
  • Compliance

    Appraisal Report(s)
    CAO Appraisal for Audit of IFC
    Mar 15, 2010
    English
    CAO Appraisal for Audit of IFC
    Informe de Evaluacion
    Mar 15, 2010
    Spanish
    Informe de Evaluacion
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