Working with the client to develop the first Biodiversity Action Plan for the Arctic Russian region, compliant with International Finance Corporation standards.
The Situation
Yamal LNG (YLNG) is developing the Yamal LNG Project, an integrated upstream natural gas and condensate production and liquefaction development of the South Tambey Gas Condensate Field. The field is located in the north-eastern region of the Yamal Peninsula in northern Russia. To assist with meeting international financing compliance, YLNG was required to protect biodiversity through the implementation of mitigation, management and monitoring measures throughout the project lifecycle.
Approach
In YLNG’s proactive approach to meet the potential project lenders’ requirements and achieve compliance with IFC Performance Standard 6 (Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources), Advisian was requested to develop a Framework Biodiversity Action Plan (FBAP) as the initial key phase of developing the Project Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). A BAP is required for all projects located in critical habitats and is recommended for projects that have the potential to significantly impact the ‘natural’ habitat.
The following deliverables were included:
- Gap analysis of the existing data against IFC Performance Standard 6 requirements
- YLNG Biodiversity Report
- Framework Biodiversity Action Plan
The YLNG Biodiversity Report provided a detailed summary of the available data, including the complete physical and biological onshore and offshore project setting.
Results
The review of IFC Performance Standard 6 (Critical Habitat) identified data gaps in non-project related ecosystem dynamics, biodiversity indicators and surveys. The FBAP summarised all previous information, provided a regulatory review, and developed key conservation objections with over 50 initial biodiversity actions that YLNG will implement.
The YLNG FBAP was submitted and approved by lenders and, as a condition of approval, a biodiversity monitoring consultant was required to implement the recommended actions and surveys to address data gaps. YLNG appointed Advisian as the monitoring consultant to oversee the implementation of the FBAP, and update the FBAP to the full BAP in 2017 when data gaps have been closed. This role includes:
- The update of the FBAP to the BAP
- Two FBAP evaluation reports
- A site visit report
- Draft public disclosure note