3.             PROJECT DESCRIPTION

 

Ready Mixed Concrete (H.K.) Limited (RMC) has proposed to install a concrete batching plant with a maximum hourly production of 300m3 concrete. Location of the proposed batching plant is shown in Figure 1.

 

The siting of the concrete batching plant has been carefully examined. The present location is considered the best in terms of environmental and visual impacts.  It is quite far away from Baguio Villa and is anticipated that the existing earth mound and the future commercial buildings would partially screen the plant at this location from the sensitive receivers, and hence the potential visual impact can be much reduced. For other locations further south along the seawall, the earth mound and the future commercial buildings can only screen a small portion of the proposed concrete batching plant, the advantage of using earth mound and buildings to reduce the visual impact may not be guaranteedRMC has considered various locations for siting the plant.  The proposed location is considered to be the best since a jetty has been formed for the anchorage of barges. Any barging points are unsuitable since a new jetty will have to be formed with consequential marine water quality impact.

 

 

As the operation of a concrete batching plant with the silo capacity exceeding 50 tonnes is a specified process (S.P.) under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO), application for a S.P. license is required in order to conduct the works.

 

The actual operation of the plant will be subject to the issuance date of the Environmental Permit and the S.P. License. The plan is for the concrete batching plant to operate until November 2001 when the land lease for the plant expires; thereafter the need for such a concrete batching plant will be re-visited.

 

The proposed concrete batching plant will be divided into two stages. For stage 1 concrete batching plant, it is a mobile plant of cement silo capacity of 45 tonnes. For stage 2 concrete batching plant, the total cement silo capacity is of 800 tonnes. When the Stage 2 plant is in operation, the mobile batching plant Mob 60 would be used as a standby and will not be operated concurrently with the Stage 2 plant.  Therefore, the major environmental impact is coming from stage 2.

 

In Stage 2, cement is directly pumped from the barge to the cement silos by conveyors. There are totally six cement silos – two are 200 tonnes and four are 100 tonnes. The two 200 tonnes silos are interconnected while the other four silos are also connected. Two dust collectors would serve each group of silos and one dust collector would serve the two mixers. Therefore, totally five dust collectors would be employed in the Stage 2 plant.During the operation of the Stage 2 plant, cement is directly pumped from the barge to the cement silos. There are totally six cement silos – two are 200 tonnes and four are 100 tonnes. The two 200 tonnes silos are interconnected while the other four silos are also connected. Two dust collectors would serve each group of silos, and one dust collector would serve two mixers. Therefore, totally five dust collectors would be employed in the plant. The general layout plan of the concrete batching plant is shown in Fig.2.

 

Aggregates would be transferred from a barge to the sea front receiving hopper by conveyor. Afterwards, the aggregates would be transported to a group of five 200 tonnes aggregate storage bins by enclosed belt conveyors. Moreover, each mixer is equipped with an overhead storage bin composing of four compartments. Each compartment can hold 40 tonnes of aggregates.Aggregates would be transferred from barges to a sea front receiving hopper. Afterwards, the aggregates would be transported to a group of five 200 tonnes aggregate storage bins by belt conveyors. Each mixer is equipped with an overhead storage bin, each composing of four compartments. Each compartment can hold 40 tonnes of aggregates.

 

Three sets of generators would be used in the plant - two sets for the batching plant and the other for maintenance workshop.

 

The activities between the commencement and completion of on-site concrete production (i.e. December 2000 to December 2001) will comprise: (a) main construction works for the Telegraph Bay Development; and (b) construction and operation of the concrete batching plant.

 

The main construction works include construction of the Cyberport Phase C1, C2, C3 and R1, Sewage Treatment Plant, Southern Access Road, Northern Access Road, Road D1, D2 and L1.