Know the National Environmental Policies on Oil & Gas

Oil and Gas The Oil and Gas Sector has continued to be the backbone of the Nigerian economy, contributing over 90% of the nation’s foreign exchange earnings and at least 80% of the GDP. This situation is likely to continue unchallenged in the near future and well into the third millennium. The sustainable development of the Oil and Gas Sector is, therefore, of utmost importance, especially since virtually all of the activities in both the upstream and downstream sectors are not only pollution-prone, but readily provoke social discord. Accordingly, sustainable exploitation strategies to be adopted nationally will seek to:

a. evolve a realistic national conservation policy that ensures optimum economic returns from oil and gas exploration and production, while ensuring adequate provisions for strategic reserves and taking into consideration the welfare of the local inhabitants of the oil and gas producing areas;

b. ensure minimal disturbance of the soil, topography, vegetation, sensitive ecological zones, including critical wildlife habitats, wetlands, avian migratory routes, etc. during the process of exploration, production, refining, transportation and marketing of oil and gas;

c. proscribe all forms of oil and gas exploration and production in estuaries, coastal waters, beaches and resorts, take such measures as will minimize disturbance to and contamination of benthic and aquatic habitats;

d. minimize disturbances/displacement of the local inhabitants, their artefacts, roads, historical sites, sacred groves/places of worship, etc., source of livelihood (agriculture, fishing, transportation etc.) and pay adequate compensation for proven cases of pollution;

e. prescribe stringent regulations for the efficient collection, treatment and disposal of oil field wastes (drilling muds and additives, formation waters etc);

f. monitor water quality in open drains, streams and other water bodies around oil and gas operations, as well as groundwater quality in all areas prone to pollution;

g. inspect periodically pipelines, ships, barges, tanks and other oil field and refinery facilities for early detection of corrosion, leakages, damages etc. and ensure prompt maintenance;

h. encourage all oil and gas operators to keep accurate records of crude oil and product spills as well as other accidents that impact environmental quality and report them promptly to the appropriate authorities;

i. maintain an inventory of certified/approved oil spill control chemicals and document their toxicity levels and biodegradability;

j. monitor air emissions and gaseous wastes (CO, CO2, NOx, H2S, CH4, SO2 etc.) discharged at production platforms, refineries, petrochemical and gas processing facilities through continual air quality sampling as well as through daily visual checks for leakages around tanks, pumps, pipelines and transfer points;

k. promote conservation and restoration of natural formation pressure through elimination of gas flaring and the re-injection of produced associated gas and formation waters;

l. promote the complete utilization of produced associated gas, reduce gas flaring and the production of greenhouse gases;

m. monitor regularly the functioning of well head and drilling platform devices to prevent blowouts, and install early warning electronic devices for their detection and prevention;

n. install pressure monitoring gauges and automatic shut-off devices on pumps, pipelines and ensure their integrity through periodic inspection and testing;

o. prescribe minimum standards of environmental safety in all upstream and downstream oil sector facilities and maintain regular environmental audits of all existing oil and gas production facilities to ensure the adoption of environmentally safe practices as well as compliance with set standards;

p. prescribe minimum environmental and safety regulations for the protection of the health of workers, the general public and the environment and ensure compliance through teams of competent inspectors;

q. prescribe a realistic Quality Control Assurance scheme for the adoption of all operators and monitor compliance;

r. ensure the establishment of realistic Oil Spill Contingency Plans to contain oil spillage, accidental explosion, well blow outs and fire incidents;

s. prescribe stringent penalties for deliberate sabotage of oil and gas installations;

t. promote research aimed at accumulating baseline ecologic data on oil and gas production areas;

Please study this and make your contribution or report any environmental issues within your neighborhood.