Following the discovery of oil fields offshore Mauritania in 2001, various concessions were granted for exploration of these sources. Impact assessments (including EIAs and Social Impact Assessments) were undertaken for separate projects, but an underlying strategic plan and strategic environmental assessment were lacking. The NCEA was asked to advise on Terms of Reference (ToR) for an SEA which should be embedded in a strategic plan for development of oil and gas activities in the offshore and coastal zone.

The NCEA formed a working group comprising expertise in various relevant disciplines, which paid a visit to Mauritania. The NCEA issued its advice, structured according to the steps in SEA and including the following sections:

Screening: need for SEA;
Scope: SEA process; problem analysis, objectives and alternatives; consistency analysis with existing policies/strategies;
Assessment and quality assurance;
Decision-making: political decision-making and accountability mechanisms;
Follow-up: recommendations for monitoring and enforcement.

Parties involved

Members of the working group

Maarten Jan Brolsma

Trudi van Ingen

Cornelis Johannes (Cor) Smit

Huib de Vriend

Martinus Zwanenburg

Chair: Aad van der Velden
Technical secretary: Veronica ten Holder

Proponent and Component Authority

Proponent
Woodside Energy Ltd.

Component Authority
Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Further details

Country: Mauritania

Last modified: 22 Sep 2014