Green Keeper Africa has propagated the use of water hyacinth-based absorbents as instrument for tackling oil spill in Africa.
The company which displayed various products at the on-going International Biennial Health Safety and Environment at Eko Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria, disclosed that: “GREEN KEEPER AFRICA is a company based in Benin Republic which develops sustainable solutions for oil spill control. We offer a range of 100% organic absorbents made from water hyacinth. Our products are recyclable and absorb on average 12 times their weight of oil.”
In a document obtained by The Daily, the company stated: “GKSORD Absorbent is easy to use, 100 per cent organic, absorbs 12 times its weight, recyclable and environmental-friendly.
Specifically referring to Special heavy oil, it stated: “The anti-pollution kits in the vehicles and transport product line are carry-on spill kits which are small in size to be easily slipped in all types of vehicles. These kits help to effectively control spills on public roads or parking lots.”
For construction site kit, it stated: “The anti-pollution kits in the ‘all industries’ product are designed to equip maintenance workshops, production sites, life bases, storage warehouses, etc. These kits are easy to move and store. They allow you to quickly bring the absorbents to the spill site.”
Also, referring to Mobile spill kit, it added: “Accidental spills of hazardous products can result in high costs for the remediation of contaminated areas and are the responsibility of the company. These anti-pollution kits offer the ability for a safe spill response and to quickly and efficiently limit the extent of spills.”
However, the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria, Mr. Mordecai Ladan, who spoke at the event stated: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to this 18th edition of the International Biennial Health Safety & Environment (HSE) Conference on the Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria. We are honoured that you accepted our invitation to participate in and contribute to this HSE conference despite your other important commitments and service to our dear nation.
“Your presence here in your various capacities as captains of industry, top government officials, thought leaders and critical stakeholders in the petroleum industry, indicates the great importance you attach to HSE, and the critical role it plays in our industry. The Petroleum industry has been at the forefront of HSE innovations in the last few decades often in response to the peculiar challenges that the industry faces, and this conference that is dedicated to HSE in the oil and gas industry has over the years played a huge role in driving HSE innovation and awareness.
“The first in the series of this biennial HSE conference on Health, Safety and Environment was held in Port Harcourt in 1979 with subsequent editions holding every other year with a continually expanding sphere of participants from around the globe.
“Going down memory lane, it is recalled that the emergence of this conference was in response to a heightened environmental consciousness as well as global need for sustainable development. Interestingly, that same impetus that gave rise to the maiden edition has returned as the main focus of today’s 18thedition, namely, Sustainable Development, but with a slightly different twist, which I will explain briefly.
“The oil and gas industry has for several decades maintained a pride of place at the top of the global energy mix despite the threat posed by renewable and cleaner energy sources. However, recent concerns about global warming, exponential improvements in the efficiency of renewable energy alternatives and the politics of oil pricing have combined to pose almost an existential threat to the global petroleum industry.”
