International Experience

From South America to Asia, the Middle East and Europe, ECON possesses proven experience in solving environmental challenges for corporations with global business operations. Our experience also stems from maintaining networks of in-country professionals that seamlessly integrate with ECON to augment our client's team. Our efforts focus on cost-effective protection of environmental, cultural, social, and economic resources. Whether your corporation is just entering a country or has sustained business operations, ECON possess the skills and relationships that can improve the profitability of your company. Our expertise includes:

• Perform due diligence for mergers and acquisitions.
  
  
• Conduct environmental impact studies and assessments for new ventures.
  
  
• Develop in-country environmental teams.
  
  
• Establish regulatory requirements.
  
  
• Develop favorable relationships with regulators and non-government organizations.
  
  
• Develop data to be used in financial evaluations of ventures.
  
  
• Identify risk factors and develop corresponding risk mitigation plans.
  
  
• Optimize the management of liabilities.
  
  

Representative Project Experience

Evaluate Value of Water Supply Company and Water Supply Privatization Prospects (State Concessions) in Brazil. Provide environmental, engineering and financial valuation data and analysis to assist in the successful negotiations resulting in the purchase of a water supply and water well drilling company. Use the valuation data to develop negotiations strategies that discounted $70MM from the asking price. Evaluate CAPEX, OPEX, and SG&A data and projections for input into financial evaluation models, and evaluate bid strategies and ROI model for privatizing state concessions and public water utilities. Provide analyses on issues such as: rate/tariff structure, supply, coverage, and consumption. Also, establish and evaluate risk-factors for achieving projected financial results and develop corresponding risk mitigation plans.

Exploration and Production (E&P) Permitting for Privatized Oil and Gas Assets in Bolivia. Upon acquiring publicly held oil and gas assets by a major integrated energy company, ECON identifies permitting requirements, establishes relationships with natural resource and environmental regulators, develops in-country environmental capabilities by subcontracting with local engineering firm, and collects data necessary to permit seismic exploration in the shortest time possible. We also interview and recruit Bolivian experts in wildlife biology, botany, and cultural impacts. In addition we expedite permit preparation and facilitate regulatory review of permits to ensure timely approval.

Design Master Plan Permitting Process for Privatization of Exploration and Production Assets in Venezuela. For the Flanco Sur Andino area of Venezuela, identify regulatory requirements and issues; identify, evaluate and select technologies and standard practices that facilitate cost-effective compliance; and identify potential environmental impacts and provide mitigating alternatives or "best practices" for environmental management of new development. Provide oversight for development of handbook to be used by Venezuelan Operating Company to evaluate proposed development of energy assets. Use this information to develop a set of specifications/requirements for all phases of oil and gas development so that oil companies could self-implement environmental requirements, that achieve compliance, without iterative or time consuming regulatory review between each phase of development.

Review of Impacts to Wetlands by Exploration and Production Activities in the Orinoco River Basin. For a major integrated energy company, provide guidance on the potential impact of E&P development on the wetlands and Mangrove swamps of the Orinoco Basin of Venezuela. Use this guidance to develop specific measures that minimize negative impacts on the environment and indigenous people. Conduct research on the characteristics of "Black Water" areas, and develop measures on how to minimize impact resulting from E&P development.

Due Diligence for Acquisition of Five Power Plants in Peru. Conduct environmental due diligence review of five natural gas fired power plants in Peru for prospective purchaser. Conduct site visits to each location, subcontract local expertise to determine permit requirements and compliance status. Develop risk summary and aid the client in developing and implementing a risk management plan that facilitates the successful acquisition of the power plants.

Contamination Assessment and Remediation Planning of Chlor-alkali Plant on Lake Maracaibo. For a Venezuelan Chlor-alkali chemical plant which is suspected of contaminating Lake Maracaibo sediments with mercury, provide review of production and waste management practices. Based on review, identify and design upgrade plans to mitigate practices that will lead to further waste deposition into Lake Maracaibo. Determine extent of mercury contamination, provide initial remediation design and cost estimate, present to plant management for decision.

Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Provision of Water Supply and Sewage Collection and Treatment Infrastructure, Solid Waste Collection and Disposal for Irbid, Jordan. Project focuses on providing additional clean drinking water for Irbid, Jordan by diverting Yarmouk River water. Assess environmental and public health impact of providing clean water and wastewater treatment, along with solid waste collection and disposal. Overall the impact is positive, the only negative aspect to the project is the necessity to dig through significant archeological resources (5,000 years of history) to install piping systems. This effort requires planning multiple parallel work sites so that crews can be moved to alternative sites while archaeological assessments are conducted when antiquities are discovered.

Analysis of Air Permitting Requirement in Kazakhstan. To support the evaluation of a venture acquisition that would involve the construction and operation of gas processing plants and refineries, identify and summarize air regulations, determine applicable requirements for development, determine financial impact of the requirements, and develop strategies for negotiating specific venture permit requirements.

Analysis of Indonesia's Regulatory System for Exploration and Production Activities. Develop summary of country’s environmental laws applicable to oil and gas exploration, develop example of how best to achieve regulatory acceptance throughout the various phases of an E&P venture, and establish contacts for client within the various branches of the regulatory agencies. and Compliance Management of Construction and Operation of Fuels Terminals in Germany. To support the strategic placement of fuels to support national defense: 1) identify locations for fuels terminals, 2) evaluate the potential environmental impact of terminal operations, 3) adjust siting and develop control measures to minimize the impact to the environment, 4) obtain permits for construction and operation, 5) construct terminals, and 6) operate terminals in accordance with both German and US regulatory requirements.

Presentation to China National Oil Company - Offshore Oil and Gas Production Environmental Concerns. Develop and present summary of off shore environmental issues to a delegation of the China National Oil Company. Presentation includes: summary of each phase of offshore oil and gas development and the potential sources, pathways and receptors resulting in environmental impact, summary of U.S. regulatory structure, summary of international "best practices" for environmental control technologies, and open discussion of China's plans and how best to protect the environment.