Leading International Oil Company (IOC), Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), on Thursday at the Pan Atlantic University (PAU), Lekki in Lagos, opened up on the real challenges drawing back the expected speed of industry operations in the oil rich Niger Delta.
In her presentation at the ongoing training for senior media executives at the School of Media & Communications (SMC) in the University, on ‘Environmental Stewardship in the Oil and Gas Industry: The Chevron Experience’, Mrs. Adedamola Abudu listed the problems to include third party illegal bunkering/illegal refinery.
Other issues include multiple regulatory agencies with oversight in environmental management and security issues.
She explained that whereas Chevron Nigeria has been mitigating the challenges to the best of its knowledge, it has become important for industry policy makers to streamline the roles and boundaries of every related agency of the government both at state and federal level so as to give industry operators a clear view of rule of engagements.
She said through several programmes put in place by the company, some of the challenges are being contained.
One of the programmes include the establishment of Community Pipeline and Surveillance Porgramme which makes host communities partners in securing the installations and providing strategic intelligence to contain breaches from time to time.
According to her, one of the most strategic policies of Chevron Nigeria Limited in operations area is to monitor spills and blowing whistles on spillages even if the spill is not from its platform or pipelines. She explained that the policy is part of the company’s way of adding value to environmental safety and operational intelligence.
Abudu averred that Chevron’s standard in spill regulatory provisions is far and above the minimum standard provided by enabling laws in the industry and noted that the reason for the high standard is to remain above board in operational safety and environmental discipline.
Giving more insights, Mr. Victor Anyaegbudike noted that “at Chevron Nigeria Limited, we try to avoid pollution and when it happens, we proactively mitigate with international best practices at all times”
“Chevron has continued to maintain the industry best Asset Integrity especially in pipeline surveillance and renewal,” Anyaegbudike averred.
