Summary of Environmental and Social Risks & Mitigation – Acelen Renewables Project
This document outlines the key environmental and social (E&S) risks associated with the Acelen Renewables project (biorefinery and pipeline for SAF/RD production in Brazil) and the mitigation measures planned. HereS a breakdown:
1. Land Acquisition & Resettlement:
* Low Risk: No land acquisition is currently planned for the biorefinery or pipeline (built within existing Right of Way – RoW).
* Contingency: A Land Acquisition and Resettlement Framework (LARF) aligned with ESS2 is in place in case small areas are needed for access roads or the Delivery Location (DL).
* indigenous Peoples: The project will not impact Indigenous Peoples’ lands.
2. Social Risks:
* Community Health & Safety: Risks from construction activities.
* Security Personnel: Potential for tensions.
* Sexual Harassment & Exploitation (SH&E): A significant risk, especially with an influx of non-local workers.
* Influx of Workers: Potential for broader social disruption.
* Mitigation: Brazilian law and client commitments address labor rights, GBV, and worker protection. Further GBV risk assessment and adoption of Good international industry Practice (GIIP) for gender issues are planned.
* Opportunities: Project aligns with Brazil & bahia’s policies to advance gender equality.
3. Occupational Health & Safety (OHS), Labor & employment:
* risks: Typical construction hazards (machinery, radiation, chemicals, heights, confined spaces, etc.).
* Mitigation: Comprehensive OHS Program within the Client’s Integrated management System. Strong existing Brazilian labor laws (“CLT” & “NRs”) and the “Agenda Bahia do Trabalho Decente” provide worker protections.
4. Stakeholder Engagement & Information Disclosure:
* Engagement: Meaningful consultations have been conducted in eight impacted communities during the permitting process. Continued engagement throughout the project lifecycle is planned.
* Disclosure: Environmental assessment documents (EIA, pipeline LA), a non-technical summary (English & Portuguese), and the Stakeholder Engagement plan (SEP) have been publicly disclosed on both Acelen Renewables’ and AIIB’s websites (as of November 2025).
* Website Link: https://www.acelenrenovaveis.com.br/biorrefinaria-adicionais/
5. Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) & Monitoring:
* GRM: A multi-tier GRM, covering both communities and workers, is proposed and aligns with AIIB’s ESF. Details will be disclosed.
* Monitoring: A Lenders Environmental and Social Advisor (LESA) will be responsible for compliance monitoring.
In essence, the project appears to be proactively addressing potential E&S risks, leveraging existing Brazilian legal frameworks and committing to further assessments and mitigation measures, particularly regarding gender-based violence and stakeholder engagement.
