Expert demands environmental impact assessment report on Gas processing plant

A Fisheries and Environmental Expert with Coastal Resources Centre, an NGO in Sekondi, has criticized the Ghana Gas Company (GGC) for not ensuring that SINOPEC International, the Chinese firm constructing Ghana's Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo in the Ellembele District of the Western Region, provides an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the project.

The expert, who is the Deputy Country Director of Coastal Resources Ghana, Kofi Abgoga, raised the concerns at a public lecture organised by the Western Regional Old Vandals Association to mark their three years anniversary in Takoradi.

Speaking on the theme, 'The impact of oil production on coastal communities', Mr. Kofi Abgoga expressed disgust at what he calls a blatant disregard for the country's environmental laws by the contractor SINOPEC and the proponent of the project, the Ghana Gas Company.

Mr. Agbogah said inasmuch as the oil boom has improved the lives of coastal communities close to the resource, the negative effects particularly on the environment must not be ignored.

“For many of the large projects coming on stream within the coastal districts, some project proponents have done well and are taking pains to go through the EIA Process. Tullow, Lohrho, VRA, to mention a few have shown that they are good corporate citizens. I have seen and read their EIA reports. What is baffling is that for a huge project like the Gas Processing Facility by the Ghana Gas Company which has contracted Sinopec International Petroleum Company of China, there is yet to be available Environmental Assessment report. Already they are at location site, clearing has been completed wetlands have been encroached, bulldozers, containers with equipments have moved to location, and the Chinese are moving in''.

Mr. Agbogah wants the Ghana Gas Company to ensure the right thing is done.

“As a result of the project, there could be perennial flooding of our towns, the Amanzure river could be poisoned, fresh ground water which is the only source of water could be affected and become saline, obnoxious gases could pollute the atmosphere and fill our bedrooms at night. We shall then call on the EPA and NADMO to come to our aid. I challenge the Ghana Gas Company to come out to explain to Ghanaians why we do not need a full blown Environmental and Social Impact Assessment'' he queried.

He said there was the need for Government to protect coastal communities to ensure that their livelihoods were not taken away in the wake of commercial oil activities. He said Government, the oil companies and the fisher folks themselves must find ways of reducing such conflicts which have emerged since commercial oil production started in 2007.

“There has been increasing military actions in the offshore oil zone with serious harassment of fishermen, including physical assaults, seizure of gear, arrest and detention. This has gone on without effective dialogue with the fishermen. However, fishermen have been advised to stay 500m away from the rigs. In recent times, most fisher folks have blamed low fish catches on Oil exploration and production. The fisheries statistics does not reflect or support such assertion and here I urge our fisher folk to look inward and should consider other reasons rather than the oil exploration. Since 1996 there has been a steady decline in fish landings before serious commercial oil exploration started 2007 – 2008''.

“However, the situation is not helped by Oil exploration activities along the western coast as fishermen have to battle for the traditional marine space with 8 odd exploration companies operating in the Tano sub-basin and nearly 50 supply companies all of whom have become stakeholders in the marine space within a short space of time. This has resulted in a number of conflicts over the use of marine space – fishermen are being excluded from certain areas of the seascape, accidents at sea resulting in the loss of life, destruction of boats and nets, poor mechanisms for payment of compensation, etc. Two major accidents at sea were recorded between 2007 and 2008 between oil supply vessel and fishing boat with the loss of six lives and the destruction of the fishing gears.

“The fishermen and their families were not adequately compensated for the loss and adequate mitigation measures have yet to be instituted. Only recently, last month, a supply vessel collided with a fishing boat completing destroying the boat. Fortunately, all the crew on board survived. Accident may or may not be the fault of the supply vessel but most invariably the supply vessels are blamed and fishermen asked to be compensated”.

CRC Ghana is the implementer of the USAID supported programme on Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance (ICFG) - the Hen Mpoano Initiative in the six coastal districts of the Western Region.

Story by Ghana l Myjoyonline.com l Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/Radio Maxx/Takoradi