International Environmental Impact Assessment - Atkins

Sohar aluminium smelter, OmanClient: Alcan/Oman OilAtkins’ economics team undertook the Social Impact Assessment(SIA) for a new aluminium smelter proposed for the Al BatinahRegion of Oman on behalf of Alcan Inc. The SIA evaluated theeffects of the project on the communities living in the area ofinfluence of the project and considered the socio-economicimpacts on standard of living and quality of life of individuals intheir day-to-day activities, perceptions and values. Interviews withkey personnel at the concerned Ministries in Oman, collation ofpublished data and material on the area and current planningsystems, field visits and interviews with local officials and localcommunities were all undertaken.Following start-up of the construction of the aluminium smelter,Atkins was recommissioned to provide a socio-economicimpact appraisal of the operation of the smelter. The appraisalfocussed particularly on the economic impacts of the smelter andbenchmarked them against other heavy industry projectsin operation and planned for Oman.14