Sungai Liang Industrial Park (SPARK) : can Brunei achieve its sustainable industrial development?

As Brunei is moving towards the diversification of its economy away from an overdependence on the oil and gas industry, the country is now putting much effort into developing additional industrial activities. At the same time, the country is also committed to develop sustainably without putting pressure on the environment and without harming the population. The SPARK project development in the petrochemical industry is one of the diversification efforts carried out by Brunei by adding value to the main economic sources i.e. oil and gas. Because developing sustainably is also important in line with the importance of diversifying the economy, this research investigates the issues involved in developing the SPARK, and to find out whether this economic diversification effort by Brunei can be developed economically, while making sure that the environment is protected and that the health and safety of the population is still prioritised.A range of methods of data collection were employed during the study, which include 1) an initial exploratory forum and meeting; 2) direct observation of the industrial area and the surrounding areas; 3) site visits to the industrial park; 4) questionnaire interviews with the local communities living near to the development; 5) formal in-depth and semi-structured interviews with the project proponent of the petrochemical industry, government officials and village heads; and 6) secondary sources using EIS of the SPARK project, SLA’s reports, investment incentives booklets for FDI to Brunei were also used for references and other unpublished information about SPARK from internal presentations. Data collected during the fieldwork were analysed qualitatively in order to find themes in the study.Based upon the data analysis, it can be said that more challenges than benefits are posed from the socio-economic impacts of petrochemical development at SPARK. The main challenges are 1) the development may require a long period to receive back revenues because of the small GDP contribution from the industrial project, the lengthy tax holiday, and high level of government subsidies; 2) little benefit from spin-off activities; 3) substantial competition from other petrochemical industries in the ASEAN states; and 4) possible impacts upon the health and safety of the local communities and industrial workers.There is also a minimal level of awareness and understanding about SPARK as well as a low level of public participation in the development project. In addition, there are differing priorities of various stakeholders at and around the industrial area which leads to the occurrence of some conflict over resources present at SPARK such as conflict over priorities and the space surrounding the industrial area as well as disputes over the opinions regarding the impacts from the project. To date, there are no serious environmental impacts that are occurring at and around SPARK. However, there is potential for the development to affect the local population and the environment near to it as there is a likelihood of emissions of environmental pollutants, presence of vibration or noise pollution, risk of industrial accidents from the handling and storage of petrochemicals. This is exacerbated by the lack of competence of an environmental agency to manage and monitor SPARK and also up until now there is an absence of environmental law in Brunei

A typology of marine and estuarine hazards and risks as vectors of change : a review for vulnerable coasts and their management

This paper illustrates a typology of 14 natural and anthropogenic hazards, the evidence for their causes and consequences for society and their role as vectors of change in estuaries, vulnerable coasts and marine areas. It uses hazard as the potential that there will be damage to the natural or human system and so is the product of an event which could occur and the probability of it occurring whereas the degree of risk then relates to the amount of assets, natural or societal, which may be affected. We give long- and short-term and large- and small-scale perspectives showing that the hazards leading to disasters for society will include flooding, erosion and tsunamis. Global examples include the effects of wetland loss and the exacerbation of problems by building on vulnerable coasts. Hence we emphasise the importance of considering hazard and risk on such coasts and consider the tools for assessing and managing the impacts of risk and hazard. These allow policy-makers to determine the consequences for natural and human systems. We separate locally-derived problems from large-scale effects (e.g. climate change, sea-level rise and isostatic rebound); we emphasise that the latter unmanaged exogenic pressures require a response to the consequences rather than the causes whereas within a management area there are endogenic managed pressures in which we address both to causes and consequences. The problems are put into context by assessing hazards and the conflicts between different uses and users and hence the management responses needed. We emphasise that integrated and sustainable management of the hazards and risk requires 10-tenets to be fulfilled

Treatment Failure in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Patients Referred to the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences During 2008-2017

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector borne disease predominantly found in tropical and subtropical countries, including Iran. For more than 6 decades, pentavalent antimonials have been used successfully worldwide for the treatment of leishmaniasis, but over the past few years, clinical resistance to these medications has increased. In this study, we evaluated CL patients who did not show any desirable responses to the anti-leishmanial treatment within a 10-year period (2008 to 2017). Methods: All patients from different parts of Iran suspected of having cutaneous leishmaniasis, who were referred to the laboratory of leishmaniosis in Tehran University of Medical Sciences from 2008-2017 were parasitological examined. Results: During this period, a total of 1480 suspected CL patients were referred to the laboratory of leishmaniosis. Samples from 655 patients (70.8) suspected of having CL were positive microscopically. The failure rate in patients treated with anti-leishmaniasis medications for a minimum of three complete treatment periods was 1.83 (12 cases). There was no association between the number and size of skin lesions and patient characteristics. Also, the route of drug administration had no significant effect on the number and size of lesions. Conclusion: In the present study, treatment failure was found in some confirmed CL patients treated with meglumine antimoniate. Over the past few years, it seems that had been increased in resistance to these medications. So, a review of the correct implementation of the treatment protocol and/or a combination therapy may be helpful in preventing an increase in the rate of treatment failure

New strategies for environmental management in harbours: the case of the Tarragona port monobuoy

Ports are a potential focus of sea pollution and therefore port authorities and operators have a key role on the sustainability and environmental protection of the coastal waters. In the last decades, monitoring techniques of the marine environment have been implemented in ports, and accurate meteo-oceanographic prediction systems have been developed. New available systems may be used to obtain real-time data in order to improve risk assessment and the management of pollution events (e.g. video surveillance systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), remote sensing products, etc.). The availability of meteo-oceanographic operational services (for instance, the SAMOA initiative from the Spanish Port Agency) allows to implement statistical techniques, such as Monte Carlo simulations, to perform probabilistic studies of potential pollution events. This contribution aims to develop new strategies, focusing on two aspects of the marine management: 1) The incorporation of the statistical methods and the available data of the physical environment; and 2) The design of environmental risk management strategies adapted to the present regulations. These tools may enhance efficiency in the environmental management of port waters and nearby coastal areas reducing the negative impact of pollutant discharges.Postprint (published version

Mapping and valuation of ecosystems and economic activities along the coast of Cameroon: implications of future sea level rise.

The vulnerability of the coastal zone of Cameroon to flooding from sea level rise (SLR) was quantified using Geographic Information System (GIS) flooding analysis. The main economic activities and ecosystems along this area were iden tified using secondary data. Valuations of non- market values of ecosystems were based on the ecosystem service product method. The low-lying coastal areas were found to be physically and socio-economically susceptible to impacts of SLR due to their high ecological and economic value. A digitised land use/land cover (LULC) classification was produced from low resolution topographic maps and Google Earth images of the area. The digital elevation model (DEM) used was acquired by the shuttle radar topography mission. Evaluation of potential land loss due to inundation was based on empirical approaches using minimum and maximum scenarios of 2 and 10 m flooding. These were estimated considering the best available SLR data for the area, mean high water levels and wave heights during storms. The estimated SLR range from 2.3 m to 9.2 m for the low and high scenarios, respectively, by 2050 and from 2.6 m to 9.7 m for the low and high scenarios, respectively, by the year 2100. Results indicate that 112 km 2 (1.2 %) and 1,216 km 2 (12.6 %) of the coastal area will be lost from a 2 m (equivalent to a low scenario by 2050) and 10 m (equivalent to a high scenario by 2100) flooding, respectively. 0.3 % to 6.3 % of ecosystems worth US$ 12.13 billion/yr could be at risk of flooding by the years 2050 and 2100. The areas under a serious threat cont ain mangroves, sea and airport, residential and industrial areas of Douala. Main plantation crops of banana and palms will be slightly affected. The identification of the soci o-economic impacts of projected SLR on vulnerable coastlines and populations is important for timely actions to be taken in mitigating the effects of natural disasters in the coastal zone

Incremental Landscape at a Baton Rouge Oil Refinery: Temporal Framework for Phytoremediation in Louisiana Cancer Alley

There is a rising need for clear guidance for phytoremediation applications in contaminated land, in anticipation of the severity of the pollution problem in the petrochemical industrial area. Results of a demographic survey of Louisiana neighborhoods adjacent to petrochemical plants indicated that both deep-rooted environmental issues and social inequity are an inherent part of many communities. This research simulated a temporal framework for incremental landscape at a Baton Rouge oil refinery and its surrounding neighborhood using phytoremediation principles with local plants and insects. Through this novel ecosystem, the site will become biodiverse, and community members will be able to explore and learn from a new, healthier landscape with an awareness of the natural process of remediation. This temporal framework can be used by other communities to create healthy neighborhoods

Preliminary assessment of industrial needs for an advanced ocean technology

A quick-look review of selected ocean industries is presented for the purpose of providing NASA OSTA with an assessment of technology needs and market potential. The size and growth potential, needs and problem areas, technology presently used and its suppliers, are given for industries involved in deep ocean mining, petrochemicals ocean energy conversion. Supporting services such as ocean bottom surveying; underwater transportation, data collection, and work systems; and inspection and diving services are included. Examples of key problem areas that are amenable to advanced technology solutions are included. Major companies are listed