WED 2022: Chevron cuts gas flaring by 95%

Sopuruchi Onwuka

American oil multinational, Chevron, has declared full conformity with all standards in operational responsibility and environmental consciousness in it petroleum exploration and production businesses.

Local affiliate, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) which operates a joint venture agreement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, stated on June 5 that it reduced routine gas flaring by over 95% in its operations in the past 10 years.

General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn, declared in a statement that the company has taken multiple steps in its Nigerian operations to track and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve the environment and push public awareness on protecting the environment.

He said CNL is advancing its lower carbon strategy focusing on lowering the carbon intensity in its operations and taking proactive approaches to managing its methane detection and reduction capabilities.

CNL utilizes high tech Optical Gas Imaging (“OGI”) cameras for detecting minute fugitive emissions. CNL has reduced routine gas flaring by over 95% in its operations in the past 10 years, he said.

The statement came as part of Chevron’s annual environmental performance stock taking to mark the World Environment Day (WED) which is celebrated across the globe on June 5 to promote environmental awareness and sustainability across the globe.

Led by the United NationsEnvironment Programme (UNEP), and held annually since 1974, each edition focuses onraising awareness and mobilizing the world to take positive action to protect nature and our planet.

The theme for this year is “Only One Earth” with focus on “Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature.” It beams a spotlight on climate action, nature action and pollution action while encouraging everyone, everywhere to live sustainably.

Chevron stated that it identifies with this global action to save the planet “as it aligns with our commitment to protecting the environment while providing affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner energy.”

The company said that apart from conducting its business in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner, it also operates in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, stakeholder expectation and best industry practices.

It also claims to have made environmental stewardship part of its social investment programmes.

Chairman and Managing Director, Rick Kennedy, explains that CNL’s approach to sustainability is highlighted by its commitment to protecting the environment, empowering its people, and always getting results the right way.

“Chevron is proud to be part of the solution to global environmental issues wherever we operate. Our environmental and energy transition efforts focus on lowering the carbon intensity of our operations, building lower carbon businesses, supporting well-designed climate policy, responsible water management, and biodiversity, while using our Operational Excellence Management System (“OEMS)”to manage risks.” 

According to him, the company’s OEMS delivers industry-leading performance in process safety, personal safety and health, environment, reliability, and efficiency.

“Our Environmental philosophy and processes lay 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 and promoting ecosystem restoration. The company continually aims to achieve world class environmental excellence through implementation of its Environment Risk Assessment and Management (“ERAM”) procedure to identify, assess, mitigate, and manage environmental risks, environmentally related community health risks, and environmentally related social risks. CNL is committed to ecosystem sustainability, including ecosystem restoration interventions where required.

The restoration programmes provide positive environmental impacts andopportunities for raising the awareness of the community members to the impacts of degradation and benefits of restoration.

Chevron recognizes the importance of protecting and conserving a region’s biodiversity, and we have a long history of working in collaboration with communities, industry groups, regulators, and conservation groups to identify and protect biodiversity in parts of the world where we operate.

CNL, in partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (“NCF”) established in 1992, the Lekki Conservation Centre (“LCC”). 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 an annual environmental awareness programme, tagged, Walk for Nature, an event held to create awareness and promote nature conservation and sustainable environmental management.

Esimaje Brikinn, CNL’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs notes that forover 60 years, CNL has remained an active agent of sustainable development and strong advocate of partnerships in support of the environment.

“We will continue to partner with stakeholders in raising public awareness to create the transformative environmental change we need to advance to a more sustainable future of our Only One Earth,” he said.