ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES & CONSULTANCY

Environmental legislation in Yemen is governed primarily by the Environmental Protection Law of 1995 (No. 26) and its subsequent revisions and amendments, which mandate that an environmental assessment be conducted prior to granting development consent for major projects likely to have significant environmental impacts. Compliance with this legislation is not optional. It is a legal requirement for any project requiring regulatory approval from the Yemeni Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and related government bodies.

The EIA/ESIA process encompasses a review of national and international legislation, an in-depth understanding of the proposed development, environmental baseline studies, impact assessment, and the preparation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) designed to minimize negative impacts and enhance positive outcomes. Where an EIA is required at an early stage of the project cycle, this proactive approach helps identify potential environmental issues early, allowing them to be designed out rather than mitigated after the fact. For less complex projects, CORALCEES prepares an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) sufficient to secure the necessary permits on behalf of clients.

CORALCEES specializes in preparing Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) reports in Yemen, fully compliant with national regulations and the standards expected by international regulatory authorities and 
funding agencies, including the World Bank and the IFC.

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The Yemeni Regulatory Context

Conducting ESIA and EIA work in Yemen requires a thorough understanding of the country's regulatory framework, one that has continued to evolve despite the challenging conditions resulting from the ongoing conflict. The Yemeni Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) remains the primary regulatory body responsible for reviewing and approving environmental assessments for development projects across the country.

Navigating EPA requirements, obtaining permits, and securing certificates of approval demands direct experience with Yemeni regulatory procedures, established working relationships with relevant authorities, and a precise understanding of what each assessment must contain to achieve approval.

In the current operating environment, regulatory processes in Yemen can be complex, fragmented, and subject to delays, requiring a consultancy that understands how to navigate these structures effectively while maintaining the technical integrity of the assessment. CORALCEES has been delivering ESIA and EIA studies in 
Yemen since 2004. We have worked across multiple governorates, with multiple regulatory bodies, and for  clients including international oil and gas operators, industrial manufacturers, and government affiliated entities. This accumulated regulatory knowledge is one of the most valuable assets CORALCEES brings to every environmental assessment assignment in Yemen.

Operating in Yemen — Our Ground Reality

Preparing a credible, defensible ESIA or EIA in Yemen is not simply a desk exercise. It requires field teams physically present at project sites to conduct environmental baseline surveys, collect socio-economic data, and engage with local communities and stakeholders. In the current security environment, deploying field teams across Yemen, particularly to remote oil and gas exploration blocks and industrial sites, demands operational experience, established local networks, and protocols for managing field activity safely and effectively.

CORALCEES operates with a permanent local team based in Yemen. We do not subcontract field collection to third parties or rely on remote data gathering where direct field access is required. Our teams have conducted environmental and social baseline surveys, stakeholder consultations, and site assessments across the governorates of Yemen, including in areas that present significant logistical and security challenges.

Navigating the permissions required to access project sites, engage with local communities, and obtain regulatory approvals in Yemen requires relationships that take years to build. CORALCEES has built those relationships with local authorities, tribal leadership structures, community representatives, and regulatory bodies, and we apply them on behalf of our clients on every assignment we undertake.

We do not overpromise on timelines or access. We assess each assignment honestly, plan accordingly, and deliver to the standard our clients require, regardless of the conditions on the ground.

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Our ESIA/EIA Services Include:

• Application for permits and certificates of approval from the Yemeni Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and relevant government bodies.

• Identification of applicable national and international legislation, including Yemeni Environmental Protection Law No. 26 (1995), sector specific regulations, and applicable World Bank and IFC performance standards.

• Socio-economic surveys and community needs assessments, capturing the social baseline data required for a complete ESIA in Yemen.

• Baseline environmental surveys covering air quality, water quality, soil, noise, biodiversity, marine and coastal ecology, conducted by field teams operating directly in Yemen.

• Stakeholder engagement and Public Consultation and Disclosure Plan (PCDP), including design, facilitation, documentation, and reporting.

• Evaluation of the Area of Influence and assessment of site sensitivity for exploration, development, and industrial projects across Yemen.

•  Impact and consequence identification, comprising systematic assessment of potential environmental and social impacts arising from project activities.

• Impact and risk assessment, including qualitative and quantitative evaluation of significance, probability, and severity of identified impacts.

•  Development of mitigation measures, monitoring programmes, and Environmental Management Plans (EMP), prepared to a standard accepted by Yemeni regulators and international lenders.

•  Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for less complex projects requiring streamlined regulatory approval from Yemeni authorities.

Our Advisory Services Include:​

• Environmental Management System (EMS) Development: Design and implementation of Environmental Management Systems to ISO 14001 standard for industrial facilities, manufacturing operations, and corporate groups, including documentation, procedures, and staff awareness programmes.

• Environmental Compliance Advisory and Due Diligence: Desktop and field-based environmental legal compliance reviews for industrial facilities, including assessment of applicable national regulations and liaison with national and local regulatory authorities on compliance with Yemeni environmental legislation.

• Sustainability and HSE Advisory: Corporate sustainability advisory, Health Safety and Environment (HSE) management system development, and environmental awareness training for industrial groups operating multiple facilities across Yemen.

Partner with CORALCEES

CORALCEES ensures that all environmental and social impact assessments are comprehensive, accurate, and 
actionable, helping clients meet Yemeni regulatory requirements while satisfying the expectations of international lenders, donor agencies, and funding institutions.

Our ESIA and EIA reports are prepared by qualified environmental and social specialists with direct field experience in Yemen. Every report we produce reflects real baseline data collected on the ground, genuine stakeholder engagement conducted with local communities, and a thorough understanding of the Yemeni regulatory and operational context.

For oil and gas operators, industrial developers, government bodies, and international organizations requiring ESIA, EIA, environmental baseline surveys, or environmental management plans in Yemen, CORALCEES is the partner with the experience, the local presence, and the professional track record to deliver. 

CORALCEES also supports industrial clients with environmental management system development, regulatory compliance advisory, and sustainability reporting, drawing on direct experience advising major Yemeni industrial groups on EMS implementation and environmental due diligence.