The projects objective is to protect the environmental integrity and globally significant biodiversity of a large, biologically rich and relatively pristine part of the Western Indian Ocean from the risks and consequences of oil spills, particularly major (Tier 3) spills. It will achieve this by helping the small island states of Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles comply with the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC). The project?s specific objectives are to:
- (a) establish the legal and institutional frameworks in each country that are needed for them to comply with the relevant international marine pollution conventions, including the OPRC;CLC 92 and the FUND of 1992
- (b) prepare and test both national and regional oil spill contingency plans;
- (c) develop appropriate national and regional oil spill response capacity; and
- (d) establish a sustainable financing mechanism and public/private sector collaborative arrangements for oil spill response.
The project will be implemented jointly by the oil industry and the four participating governments, coordinated by the Indian Ocean Commission, and assisted by the International Maritime Organization, South Africa and France.
The project activities are progressing well according to the Project Implementation Plan (PIP). The selected candidates to attend the nine month training on International Maritime Laws at the International Maritime Law Institute (Malta) have completed this training. The workshop on international maritime conventions and on sensitivity mapping have been successfully carried out in Cape Town and Mauritius in June/July 1999. All four countries have ratified or launched the process for ratification of the three relevant international maritime conventions. The legal TA to review the national legislation is to be recruited by IOC. The project launching seminar has been carried out in Madagascar in July 1999. The first meeting of the Steering Committee was held in October 1999 in Seychelles and coincided with the oil spill response exercises carried out by Seychelles at Victoria. The Mid-Term Review was carried out in December 2000 and was attended by all partners in the project (beneficiary countries, IOC, WB, IPIECA, IMO, UNEP, Reunion Island, South Africa). As of November 30, 2000, some $600,000 of the total amount of the Grant were committed and $578,000 disbursed.
Toxic Substances
Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Regional
Budget
USD 3,937,000
Total Cost of the project
USD 2,814,000
GEF Allocation to project
Partners
The main focus is on helping the poorest people and the poorest countries, but for all its clients the Bank emphasizes the need for:Investing in people, particularly through basic health and educationFocusing on social development, inclusion, governance, and institution-building as key elements of poverty reduction Strengthening the ability of the governments to deliver quality services, efficiently and transparently Protecting the environment Supporting and encouraging private business developmentPromoting reforms to create a stable macroeconomic environment, conducive to investment and long-term planning.
IOC’s principal mission is to strengthen the ties of friendship between the countries and be a platform of solidarity for the entire population of the Indianoceanic region. IOC’s mission also includes development, through projects related to sustainability for the region, aimed at protecting the region, improving living conditions of the populations and preserving the very natural resources that the countries depend on.
Contacts
Project Regional Coordinator
Senior Natural Resources Specialist