NOSDRA and Mobil Strengthen Ties for Improved Environmental Management

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) are set to bolster collaboration aimed at ensuring efficient environmental management in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. This decision came to light following a high-level meeting between NOSDRA’s Director-General, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, and a team from MPNU at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. The engagement was focused on exploring new avenues for joint efforts in tackling the environmental challenges linked to oil spill management in Nigeria.

Leading the MPNU team, Mrs. Damilola Borishade, Acting General Manager of Safety, Health, and Environment, alongside Mr. Hashim Saidu, Acting Manager of External Relations, expressed their enthusiasm about the prospects of working with NOSDRA under Engr. Woke’s leadership. They also extended their congratulations to the DG on his recent appointment. During the meeting, Borishade provided an in-depth overview of Mobil Nigeria’s operations, highlighting the significance of the Qua Iboe Terminal (QIT) located in Eket, which serves as a major export hub, producing four to six shipments monthly, each carrying around 950,000 barrels of crude oil.

Borishade emphasized that Mobil is keen on forging stronger partnerships with NOSDRA, particularly in oil spill management, and underscored the importance of the agency’s support in advancing environmental protection initiatives. She reassured the DG that MPNU is fully committed to adhering to environmental regulations and best practices, expressing hope for a more productive collaboration under the new leadership.

In his response, Engr. Woke thanked the MPNU delegation for their well wishes and reiterated NOSDRA’s commitment to building a more effective partnership with Mobil. However, he raised concerns about past experiences where oil operators were reluctant to fully collaborate with regulatory agencies. He stressed that while NOSDRA is open to partnership, compliance with environmental regulations is non-negotiable. Engr. Woke made it clear that NOSDRA will not tolerate any shortcuts or lack of transparency in dealing with oil spill issues, calling for mutual respect and cooperation between the agency and Mobil.

“We are prepared for a collaboration, but experiences have shown that operators are not ready to collaborate as they don’t give us room to do the work. For this collaboration to work, compliance is non-negotiable,” Woke stated. He assured the Mobil team that NOSDRA is committed to maintaining high standards and will work closely with them to ensure effective environmental protection measures are upheld.

In response, Borishade reassured NOSDRA of MPNU’s willingness to support the agency’s initiatives, including training and capacity-building programs at NOSDRA’s Reference Laboratory. She noted that Mobil sees this partnership as an opportunity to enhance its environmental stewardship and to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s oil spill management framework.

Both parties agreed to deepen cooperation, with a shared commitment to improving environmental management practices within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. This collaboration is expected to set a new benchmark for regulatory and corporate partnerships aimed at safeguarding the country’s natural environment.

Energy Experts Call for Sustainable Practices to Cut Emissions in Oil and Gas

At a recent webinar titled “Transitioning Away from Emissions, not Oil and Gas,” organized by the Nigerian Institution of Petroleum Engineers (NiPeTE) and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Professional Practice Group (LCCI PPG), energy experts emphasized the need for sustainable practices to reduce emissions in the oil and gas sector. The discussion, held online, focused on how the sector could continue to play a crucial role in the global economy while minimizing its environmental impact through cleaner technologies.

Dr. Nuhu Habib, a former Executive Commissioner for Development and Production at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), explained that while oil and gas production contributes to emissions, it is not the largest source of global greenhouse gases. He argued that oil and gas will remain vital to the global economy for the foreseeable future, contributing around 15% to industrial emissions, but that broader industrial activities are responsible for more significant greenhouse gas output. Habib called for a more holistic approach to reducing emissions, rather than solely targeting oil and gas.

He also critiqued the international community for falling short of its financial commitments to African countries under the Paris Agreement, noting that these nations need more substantial support to mitigate climate change.

Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, President of the LCCI, emphasized that gas flaring and other petroleum activities in Nigeria are significant contributors to emissions, which in turn negatively impact public health and accelerate climate change. He called for more innovative solutions to decarbonize Nigeria’s economy without sacrificing the growth that oil and gas bring to the country.

Idahosa further highlighted the economic importance of the sector, noting that oil and gas account for 90% of Nigeria’s export revenues and 60% of government revenue. He pointed to Nigeria’s 2023 CO2 emissions of approximately 120 million tons as a key concern and urged policymakers to implement more stringent regulations to encourage sustainable practices.

Engr. Prisca Kanebi, National Chairman of NiPeTE, stressed the importance of balancing global efforts to reduce greenhouse gases with Nigeria’s own developmental needs. Similarly, Dr. Mohammed Malami of NNPC Ltd. advocated for the integration of low-carbon technologies to improve operational efficiency without eliminating oil and gas entirely.

The experts agreed that sustainable practices in the oil and gas industry could significantly reduce emissions without jeopardizing the sector’s contribution to global energy security. They called for stronger policy support, collaboration, and innovative approaches to ensure a cleaner and more sustainable future for the industry.

These engagements highlight the ongoing efforts by industry leaders and regulators to tackle environmental and sustainability challenges within Nigeria’s petroleum sector. The collaborative efforts between NOSDRA and Mobil, as well as the broader discussions on sustainable practices in oil and gas, signal a positive step toward more responsible environmental management and a sustainable future.

Source: NCDMB