ESIA, Stakeholder Engagement, and Environmental and Social Baseline for Shorebase Development, Liberia

Acorn International and its in-country partner in Liberia were contracted to perform Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for development of a shorebase for oil and gas exploration activities in Liberia.

The facilities had the potential to include a laydown yard, incinerator, office facilities, mud plant and other equipment and materials storage. Conduct of the ESIA included a series of meetings with officials and NGOs to present the proposed activities and expected impacts and to obtain information on their concerns to be addressed in the ESIA.

As part of the ESIA, the team conducted baseline environmental sampling of the project site and exported the samples – using international standards – to a lab in the U.S. (no certified labs available in-country).

The team also conducted a full social baseline survey of the region, including GIS mapping of sensitive receptors and community locations. A series of town meetings was also held with nearby communities.