Richard Ginika Izuora
Oil major Chevron Corp. said natural gas will play a long-term role in curbing emissions, bucking some environmental groups that see the fuel’s role as a temporary bridge to a low-carbon economy.
To that end, European buyers are signing more gas-delivery contracts of a decade or more in duration as they seek replacement sources of the heating and power-plant fuel formerly supplied by Russia, said Colin Parfitt, Chevron’s Vice President of Midstream.
“We see a long demand for natural gas,” Parfitt said during an interview with Bloomberg TV on Tuesday. “But we don’t think it’s just an intermediate step. We see that as a long term step.”
Parfitt’s comments came a week after Chevron shareholders overwhelmingly shot down activist demands for tougher emission targets.
In Nigeria, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), which operates a joint venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), said it strongly recognizes the importance of minimizing its environmental footprints by promoting ecosystem restoration.
The company said its actions continually aims to achieve world-class environmental excellence through implementation of its Environment Risk Management process to identify, assess, mitigate against, and manage environmental risks, environmentally related community health risks, and environmentally related social risks.
It therefore has expressed its commitment to the global action towards addressing the impact of plastic pollution and creating an eco-friendly environment, as the world celebrates this years World Environment Day, WED.
The world commemorates World Environment Day every June 5 to celebrate and promote environmental awareness and sustainability across the globe.
Led by the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, and each edition since 1974 focuses on raising awareness and mobilizing the world to take positive action to protect nature and our planet.
The theme for this year is ‘Solutions to Plastic Pollution’ under the campaign slogan #BeatPlasticPollution. The theme is focused on creating awareness on the effects of plastic pollution on our ecosystem.
Chevron, in a statement said the move to address the impact of plastic pollution aligns with its commitment to protecting the environment while providing affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner energy.
“CNL conducts its business in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner, in compliance with all applicable laws and regulatory requirements, stakeholder expectations and best industry practices, and has made environmental stewardship part of its social investment programmes,” it stated.
Chairman and Managing Director, CNL, Rick Kennedy, explained that the company’s approach to sustainability is highlighted by its commitment to protecting the environment, empowering its people, and always getting results the right way.
“Environmental protection is a key operational excellence focus that is integrated into our project planning and life cycle of our assets. We implement a robust process for management of wastes, including solid wastes like plastics of various densities through reduction, reuse, and recycling options.
“We continue to assess and implement reduction of single-use plastic water bottles by providing water dispensers. We have also invested in waste management equipment to shred, crush, and compact for recycling and re-use of waste by third party service providers. These actions have prevented our used plastics from leaking into our immediate natural environment,” he stated.
According to Rick, CNL’s Operational Excellence Management System delivers industry-leading performance in process safety, personal safety and health, environment, reliability, and efficiency.
“Our focus on the environment during decision making lays the foundation for sound environmental management. The company protects the environment through the entire lifecycle from responsible design, development, operations, and asset retirement,” he stated.
“CNL recognizes the importance of minimizing its environmental footprints by promoting ecosystem restoration. The company continually aims to achieve world-class environmental excellence through implementation of its Environment Risk Management process to identify, assess, mitigate against, and manage environmental risks, environmentally related community health risks, and environmentally related social risks.
“CNL is advancing its lower carbon strategy by focusing on lowering the carbon intensity of its operations and by implementing methane detection and reduction capabilities. CNL utilizes high tech Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) cameras for detecting fugitive emissions and in the past 10 years has reduced routine gas flaring by over 97 per cent in its operations.
“The company, in partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), established the Lekki Conservation Centre in 1992. This 78-hectare facility, a center of excellence in environmental research and education, is reserved as a sanctuary for the rich flora and fauna of the Lekki Peninsula.
“In 2005, CNL began supporting a yearly postgraduate research scholarship for PhD students in environment and conservation, instituted by the NCF.
Additionally, the company hosts the annual S.L. Edu Memorial Lecture to promote environmental management awareness and partners with the Lagos State Government and NCF to sponsor the annual Walk for Nature event, a programme aimed at creating awareness for nature conservation and sustainable environmental management. The theme of the 2019 edition was “Plastic Pollution, the enemy of our development agenda.”
