Yemisi Izuora
Seven Energy, an independent Nigerian integrated oil and gas development company is planning expansion of its pipeline protection platform with a view to encouraging more community participation.
The initiative called “Green Team” a community engagement process where community leaders and youths are engaged in policing and maintenance of critical gas infrastructures owned and operated by the company have recorded remarkable success with community people embracing the initiative.
Green Team was adopted by Seven Energy as a community based approach to maintain, monitor and clear its pipeline right of way (ROW).
Speaking on the project, Glenn Bestall, Vice President QHSSE/CSR of Seven Energy said the concept was specifically designed to promote cordial and social relationship with host communities, create job opportunities for the local people, and by extension ensure protection of gas pipelines and other critical facilities.
Bestall said since the project was unveiled the company has not recorded serious nefarious activities on its facilities as youths contracted and paid under a favourable special engagement process have on continuous basis kept eye on the pipelines.
According to him, “the project has largely ensured public safety and asset integrity, consistent clearing of the ROW for free and conducive operations, easy and free patrol, inspection and maintenance, among other benefits”.
Bestall disclosed that since indigenes have been engaged to take ownership and become stakeholders in the gas investment program of the company about 35 incidents mostly attempted encroachment have been reported and promptly dealth with.
Providing more insight to the initiative, Nkoyo Etuk senior manager corporate social responsibility of Seven Energy said the company has enjoyed peace and harmonious social relationship with host communities because of its transparent engagement process.
“We are at peace with our hosts because we consult with them at every decision we make and ask for their input.
We have made them key stakeholders and offer them opportunities to build their skills, capacity and job opportunities, I think this is a rare opportunity offered elsewhere” Etuk said.
She said that above all, sensitisation and awareness creation among the people has been one of the success stories so far recorded.
“We have consistently informed them that what have been laid is not crude oil pipeline, but gas that cannot be evacuated into a waiting tanker or vessel for any commercial gain, but a volatile high pressure gas that cannot be scooped and any attempt to severe them will cause un-imaginable disaster” she said.
So far she continued, the engagement process has been very successful and about 146 of them are engaged on contract basis and this will be increased in 2016 with more youths being considered to create more employment as well as more take home pay.