Stakeholders in the Nigerian oil and gas sector have adopted a comprehensive set of commitments and targets that aim to enhance environmental risk management .
The targets were adopted at a high-level policy dialogue at the instance of the Institute for Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (OGEES Institute), Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti.
The workshop brought together leading environmental law experts, national oil and gas regulators and practitioners from government bodies, industry, academia, civil society and media to discuss new insights on how to enhance environmental risk management (ERM) in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.
Some of the high-level attendees included Senator Magnus Abe, Senate Committee on Environment; Obinna Chidoka, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Environment; and Dr. Marvin Dekil, Programme Coordinator, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), amongst other seasoned experts in the oil and gas industry.
The workshop also provided an interactive platform for stakeholders to examine how to practically implement various aspects of the Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria (EGASPIN) released by the Department of Petroleum Resources in 2018.
Speaking at the workshop, the Director of the OGEES Institute, Prof. Damilola S. Olawuyi, said that there is no regulatory perfection anywhere in the world.
“This is why oil and gas regulators worldwide continue to look for new ways to achieve an efficient, safe, orderly and environmentally responsible development of oil and gas resources over their entire life cycle. Today’s event allowed stakeholders to come together to develop formidable commitments and targets that can help advance the environmental risk management principles and goals set out in EGASPIN 2018.
Olawuyi, stated that sharing from participants on short and long-term targets and goals that can help advance the ERM principles and goals set out in EGASPIN.
“A six-point ERM action plan that was adopted at the workshop focused on immediate five-year goals (2019-2024) to accelerate environmental restoration and services in the Niger Delta through a dedicated financial mechanism minimise flaring through intensive flare points shutdown, without compromising operations and practices with regard to safety; and, accelerate community engagement through specialised training for local environmental champions, including women and youths,” he explained.
“The workshop culminated in the official launching of the ERM Action Plan (2019-2024) as well as the OGEES Institute’s environmental risk management report.
Olawuyi said: “All hands should now be on desk to ensure that we translate these important action plans to reality. There is a strong business case, in terms of cost, reputation and effectiveness for doing so. We all, as stakeholders in the oil and gas sector, will benefit from profitable exploration and commercialisation of resources, that also minimise negative environmental footprint of oil production activities.”
According to him, OGEES Institute utilises multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, to develop, inform, and influence critical investment and policy decisions by industry and government on issues related to oil, gas, mining, energy, environment and sustainable development.
“OGEES Institute pursues a three-fold mandate of research, capacity building and public dialogue. The Institute initiates projects and responds to requests from the public and private sectors and from non-governmental organisations in line with its mandates and objectives,” he said.
AU to launch Africa’s forestry mgt framework in 2020
Africa’s sustainable forestry management framework will be launched in early 2020 to guide the continent in sustainable exploitation of forest resources.
Senior Policy Officer at AU Commission, Almami Dampha said that the framework had been developed to help countries meet the AU Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“The framework will act as a guide to assist AU member states and regional bodies in promoting sustainable management and policies development of forest and added that over 100 delegates attending a forestry conference in Nairobi.
He said that Africa’s forest declined by 2.8 million hectares in 2010-2015 due to poor forestry and land use policies, competition from other sectors such as agriculture and mining, and conflicts and instability.
“We hope that the framework will help in reversing the deforestation, forest degradation, land degradation, desertification, mitigate and adapt to climate change and make the continent prosperous,” said Dampha.
Dampha urged forestry experts and governments to prioritise forestry in their national plans and resource allocation.
He observed that the framework that would be ratified by the heads of state and governments early 2020 is due for validation in July.
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FG partners firm on software for environmental protection
The federal government has entered into partnership with GEObjects, a software provider operating in Australia and United Kingdom that would lead its initiatives to protect air, water, land and natural assets in the country.
Under the agreement, the government will be able to gain the capabilities to measure and analyse environmental outcomes on equal footing with any participant in carbon economy and management in the sub region.
Speaking at joint workshop in Abuja, Director, Department of Climate Change, Dr. Peter Tarfa said the government brought the software provider to brainstorm on application how it would be used in ministries, department and agencies.
According to Tarfa, currently, there are reviews going on how to calculate emissions, the methods involved, adding, this will not be another ‘white elephant project of government, but to make it applicable to all sectors of the economy.
Earlier, Managing Director of GEObjects, Mark Wood, said the technologies exceed what is obtainable in most advanced governments, adding that Nigeria was the perfect sponsor to drive the change in the world.
Mark also noted that the workshop would focus on developing and refining pathways for advancement of country’s position going into next phase of environmental economy through the use of the software.
He however, explained that the burden of cost of environmental management might be revisited as a way to produce wealth, enrich the people, create social opportunities as well as invigorate Nigerian economy.
Another speaker, David MclLwraith argued that one of the most interesting thing was to bring sophisticated environmental analytics software to every one who needs to use it, ‘the key product is Sphere.’
Explaining further, David maintained that they recognised the expertise of government and agencies and seek to provide a tool to enhance the capability assets. he said that they are ready to train software developers, scientists, and operators technicians.
“We supply and provide environmental analysis software, which is a carbon simulator and system. We also want to establish Nigerian participation in global carbon economy generates revenue, secures her place in pro-carbon age.
