Instrument of financial support to
encourage the economic development
of the Turkish Cypriot community
Summary Project Fiche - 2006
1.
B
ASIC
I
NFORMATION
1.1.
CRIS Number:
CRIS 2006/018-150.01.02
1.2.
Title: Feasibility study for the
rehabilitation of the Lefke mining
area
1.3.
Sector: Environment
1.4.
Location: northern part of Cyprus
1.5.
Duration: 2 years
Planning and contracting period: November
2006 – June 2006
Implementation period:
June 2007 – December 2008
2.
O
BJECTIVES
2.1.
Overall objective:
The aim of the project is to carry out a set
of site studies in order to determine
the frame conditions for a future rehabilitation of the Cyprus
Mining
Corporation (CMC) mining and ore
processing sites in the Lefke
region and
to prepare conceptual projects and ToR for each component of the
required
rehabilitation work.
2.2.
Specific objectives:
The specific objectives of this project are:
–
To assess the institutional and legal
context for the rehabilitation of the
former CMC mining and ore
processing sites;
–
To prepare specific site studies related to
the water and groundwater
pollution, soil contamination, feasibility of tailings and ore
recovery,
security and stability of the underground mine at Mavrovouni
(Karadağ);
–
To recommend the most appropriate solution
for the rehabilitation projects
for each of the sites and to identify further need of intervention.
The
rehabilitation programme to be developed shall take into account any
potential for future exploitation of the orebodies;
–
To prepare conceptual projects for the
rehabilitation of each CMC site;
–
To prepare an estimate of cost for each
component of the rehabilitation
works;
–
To prepare terms of reference for the
rehabilitation works and their
supervision.
2
2.3.
Compliance with Council Regulation
389/2006
The project is conceived within the
framework of the Council Regulation
(EC) No 389/2006 of 27/02/2006 which stipulates in its Article 1
that:
"The Community shall provide assistance
to facilitate the reunification of
Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of the
Turkish-Cypriot
community with particular emphasis on the economic integration of
the
island, on improving contacts between the two communities and with
the EU,
an on the preparation for the acquis communautaire."
This project contributes in particular to
the attainment of the following
objective of Council Regulation 389/2006 as laid down in Article 2:
•
Development and restructuring of
infrastructure, in particular in the areas of
energy and transport, the environment and
water supply.
3.
D
ESCRIPTION AND JUSTIFICATION
The CMC
mining sites are located in the northern foothills and coastal plain
of the
Troodos Mountains in the northern part of Cyprus, approximately 40
km west of
Nicosia. The area of concern comprises:
The former mining area of the Mavrovouni
(Karadağ) underground mine and
Lefke “A” pit mine, adjacent to
the town of Lefke and the low
grade ore waste
piles in their vicinity;
The Apliki (Aplıç) pit and the nearby waste
ore piles;
The Xeros (Gemikonağı) reservoir on the
Xeros creek and the adjacent phoenix
holding pond;
The Xeros River valley between the United
Nations (UN) buffer zone in the
south, and the Mediterranean sea in the north;
The former Cyprus Mining Corporation (CMC)
mineral processing facility at
Xeros (Gemikonağı);
The Lefke
creek from the vicinity of the Apliki (Aplıç) mine to the
Mediterranean Sea; and
Other adjacent residential and agricultural
areas that may potentially be
impacted by mining-related activities or by use of polluted surface
water and
groundwater.
The entire area described above encompasses
about 20 km
2
. The Cyprus Mining
Corporation abandoned the site in the
mid-70s. What they left behind is a major
environment hot-spot with serious risk in terms of groundwater,
surface and soil
contamination.
The main problems of the abandoned
CMC ore processing site can be
summarised
as follows:
3
Exploitation of different ores with
different (liquid) technologies, involving the
use of chemicals without sufficient containment or pollution
control;
Loss of CMC
archives and database about exact locations and previous
exploitation;
Unresolved property (land and exploitation
rights) issues;
Lack of accurate and robust data related to
the extent of environmental pollution
caused by the mining operations and the subsequent decommissioning.
In addition to this, the abandoned mines and
pits at Mavrovouni (Karadağ) and
Apliki also cause some serious problems, which merit further
investigation:
Low grade ore residues from the Mavrovouni
(Karadağ) and Apliki (Aplıç) pits
contaminate the Lefke and Xeros
creeks by leaching with rain water;
The Gemikonağı (Xeros) storage lake was
built adjacent to the Lefke 'A'
pit,
partly upon and partly at the foot of phoenix waste piles;
The stability of the old Mavrovouni mine is
a point of concern (soil stability/
earthquake security/ water diffusion into the mining galleries).
Different approaches have been proposed in the past by international
experts and
local stakeholders. The studies to be made for the
CMC rehabilitation should
determine the environmental, economic and social applicability of
these approaches
and provide recommendations which approach would have to be
followed.
Lefke is actually the area in the
Turkish Cypriot community with the most
developed environmental awareness. Both the local community of
Lefke, including
local academic institution and the Lefke
Environmental Association are very active
in developing projects for environmental protection. The vicinity of
the CMC sites
and the fact of living several decades with an environmental
disaster has contributed
considerably to the development of this awareness.
People from Lefke are also very
keen on a rapid progress concerning the
rehabilitation of the CMC site.
Several serious investigations have been made
concerning the environmental impact and the rehabilitation of the
CMC sites during
the last 10 years, but no action followed. Meanwhile the
environmental damage
especially due to tailings and ore pile leachate continues.
It should be noted that solution of the property issue is crucial
for the smooth
implementation of any rehabilitation project. Land owners in the
involved areas
(other than CMC) should be
determined, and the approval of all land owners should
be obtained prior to the start of remediation activities. Due to the
complex structure
of land ownership and administration, this may prove to be a very
difficult task.
Additionally, the position of CMC
should be investigated in view of a final
settlement regarding the ownership and use of the
CMC sites.
4
4.
R
ESULTS
The project will have the following
deliverables:
–
Assessment of Legal Situation and Permitting
–
Determination of Reference Standards and
Legislation
–
Site study on contamination of the
CMC ore processing area,
Mavrovouni
(Karadağ) and Apliki (Aplıç) mines
–
Site study (surface and groundwater surveys)
–
Recommendations for approaches and
technologies to be implemented
–
Assessment of Risks Related to the
Interaction of the Gemikonağı (Xeros)
Storage Lake and the Underground Mine at Karadağ (Mavrovouni)
–
ToR for the rehabilitation project for the
CMC ore processing area at
Gemikonağı (Xeros)
–
ToR for the rehabilitation project for the
Mavrovouni (Karadağ) open pit and its
environment
–
ToR for the rehabilitation project for the
Apliki (Aplıç) open pit and its
environment
–
Supervision ToRs
–
ToR for the risk management programme for
the Mavrovouni (Karadağ)
underground mine
–
ToR for eventually necessary other
environmental studies
–
Final report
5.
A
CTIVITIES
The project will be implemented through a
single technical assistance contract
which comprise the undertaking of a comprehensive study aiming at
the
rehabilitation of the CMC mining
areas at Mavrovouni (Karadağ) and Apliki (Aplıç)
and the ore processing area at Gemikonağı (Xeros). As regards the
Apliki mine, also
the part in the government controlled areas will be included in the
scope of the
study.
The study will comprise data collection
related to land use and ownership rights,
permits to be obtained for the rehabilitation, technical information
about previous
activities and infrastructure, and the actual environmental
pollution. This includes
sampling of soil and groundwater and hydro-geological studies
establishing the
velocity and direction of pollutants diffusion.
Relying on the data obtained by the site
investigations and analysis, and considering
environmental, social and economic factors, the contractor should
recommend a
5
strategy for the rehabilitation of the
CMC sites, with or without
recovery of tailing
and mining waste. The following detailed activities will be carried
out:
a)
Review of existing documentation and data
with recommendation on additional
data needs and collection;
b)
Assessment of the existing institutional
arrangements for the administration of
the CMC site, including land
titles and permits to be obtained from land owners;
c)
Assessment of the legal framework related to
the rehabilitation of the CMC
sites;
d)
Undertaking of a site study to determine the
degree of contamination and
establish adequate solutions for remediation;
e)
Assessment of the Mavrovouni (Karadağ)
underground mine concerning ground
stability, earthquake risk and interaction with the Gemikonağı
(Xeros) storage
lake;
f)
Formulation, taking into account local
stakeholders' opinions and concerns, of
recommendations for the approach to be pursued for the
rehabilitation of the
sites (rehabilitation technologies to be selected, recovery of
tailings and low
grade ore waste recommended or not, identify, if necessary,
additional studies or
projects for the restoration of the environment affected by the
CMC operation
and inadequate closure).The rehabilitation programme to be developed
shall take
into account any potential for future exploitation of the orebodies;
g)
Preparation of conceptual projects and Terms
of Reference for the site
rehabilitation, separately for the CMC
ore processing site at Xeros
(Gemikonağı), the Karadağ (Mavrovouni) complex including the
Gemikonağı
(Xeros) storage lake, and the Apliki (Aplıç) mine as well as ToRs
for a risk
management programme for the Mavrovouni (Karadağ) underground mine
(relying on the findings of the study); ToR for the supervision of
the investment
projects and ToR for eventually necessary other environmental
studies
Key experts required for this project are:
–
Team leader – Geologist, hydrogeologist,
geological or hydrogeological engineer
–
Rehabilitation expert
–
Mining expert
–
Legal expert
The following expertise is to be provided by short term experts
unless the
nominated long term experts can demonstrate that they have this
expertise:
–
Landscape engineering including
re-vegetation plans
–
TCC environmental and property related
legislation
–
GCC environmental and property related
legislation
–
Local geologist or hydrogeologist
–
On-site chemical analysis
–
Assessment of Mavrovouni (Karadağ)
underground mine regarding soil stability
and earthquake risks
–
Hydrological assessment related to the
Gemikonağı (Xeros) storage lake
6
–
Environmental impact assessment
–
Financial expert (budget preparation)
–
Contracts and procurement
6.
L
INKED
A
CTIVITIES
Several organisations have carried out
research related to the environmental
situation of the CMC site and
proposed studies or projects for rehabilitation. The
most serious of these have been:
–
A&M Engineering and Environment Services
Inc. (Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA),
1998: A proposal for site investigation, sampling, evaluation and
remedial
recommendations, Gemikonağı Processing and Mining Area ;
–
Dr. Harvey A. Cohen, Sampling and Analysis
Plan for the Xeros (Gemikonağı)
Area of northern Cyprus (USAID/ UNDP funding, executed by UNOPS),
January 2002;
–
Dr. Harvey A. Cohen, Phase I Environmental
Assessment of the Lefka- Xeros
Area of northern Cyprus (USAID/ UNDP funding, executed by UNOPS),
January 2002;
–
Dr. Hayrünnisa Dinçer, İTÜ, Project for the
Valorisation of Old Copper Residues
in the Lefke Area, January 2004.
The studies of A&M Engineering and Dr. Cohen
have been conducted with the aim
to establish terms of reference for the preparation of
rehabilitation studies at the
CMC site. A&M Engineering took
some samples of the tailing ponds body and had
it analysed at a US laboratory. The aim of this pre-study was to
determine the need
for further investigation and propose the necessary steps. This work
has been carried
out for the local community of Lefke
in 1998. The environment assessment of the
Xeros (Gemikonağı) area by Dr. Cohen takes into account these
previous findings.
This project will take stock of work
undertaken with the aim to undertake a state of
the art assessment of all the issues involved (technical, legal,
etc.).
7.
D
ETAILED
B
UDGET
Component
Total EU in
m€
Total Cost
in m€
Feasibility study for the rehabilitation
of
the Lefke mining area
0.9 0.9
Total
0.9
0.9
8.
I
MPLEMENTATION
A
RRANGEMENTS
The European Commission is responsible for
administering the assistance in
accordance with Article 53(1) of the Financial Regulation 1605/2006.
The
Commission will be the contracting authority for any activity funded
under this
project fiche.
7
As regards procurement, the project will be
implemented through one service
contract.
9.
I
MPLEMENTATION
S
CHEDULE
–
Start of tendering:
November 2006
–
Start of project activity:
June 2007
–
Project completion:
December 2008
10.
E
QUAL
O
PPORTUNITY
The project will ensure participation of
both women and men in project activities on
equal terms.
ANNEXES
1. Logical
Framework
2. Detailed
Implementation
Chart
3.
Contracting and disbursement schedule by
quarter for full duration of programme
(including disbursement period)
ANNEX 1
LOGFRAME PLANNING MATRIX FOR
Project Title: F
EASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE REHABILITATION OF
THE
L
EFKE MINING AREA
CRIS
2006/018-150.01.02
Contracting period expires:
July 2009
Execution period expires:
July 2009
Total Budget: €900,000
EU contribution : €900,000
Overall Objective
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
The aim of the project is to carry out a
set of
site studies in order to determine the frame
conditions for a future rehabilitation of the
Cyprus Mining Corporation (CMC)
mining
and ore processing sites in the Lefke
region
and to prepare conceptual projects and ToR
for each component of the required
rehabilitation work.
–
Acceptance on solution for rehabilitation
of
the site
–
Satisfactory solution to legal issues
–
Leveraging of donor contribution for the
rehabilitation phase
–
Elaboration of a clear action plan for
subsequent phases
–
European Commission
–
Local stakeholders
–
Independent reports
Project Purpose
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
Sources of Verification
To assess the institutional and legal
context
for the rehabilitation of the former CMC
sites;
To prepare specific site studies related to the
water and groundwater pollution, soil
contamination, feasibility of tailings and ore
recovery, security and stability of the
underground mine at Mavrovouni (Karadağ);
To recommend the most appropriate solution
for the rehabilitation projects for each of the
sites and to identify further need of
intervention;
To prepare conceptual projects for the
rehabilitation of each CMC site;
To prepare cost estimates;
To prepare ToRs for the rehabilitation works
Delivered studies
–
European Commission
–
Local stakeholders
–
Independent reports
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