Mkpoikana Udoma
Executive Director, of Rainbow Watch and Development Centre, Mr Michael Lenee Gbarale, said though the Train-3 project was critical to the economic growth of the country, caution must be taken on specific aspects of the project that have detrimental consequences on the environment.
Gbarale alleged that the environmental and social impact assessment conducted by Indorama falls short of global best practices, with no clear-cut commitments towards mitigating the environmental and social challenges that will arise from the project.
The group also expressed concerns over the potential harm that will occur from soil, water and air pollution and deforestation, which he said will negatively impact communities around the project area, adding that there was no sufficient compensation plan for affected communities who may lose their sources of livelihood.
He charged the management of Indorama and industry regulators to take into account the concerns raised by the group and act with due diligence towards promoting and enforcing the best international environmentally sustainable practices on the project.
He said, “We are deeply concerned about the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, ESIA, carried out by Indorama Train-3 expansion project in Eleme, Rivers State. While we recognize the efforts of Indorama to comply with existing environmental regulations, we remain concerned about specific aspects of the project that have detrimental consequences.
“Our evaluation revealed that the ESIA conducted falls short of requirements, and while some vague commitments have been made to address the environmental and social challenges that will arise, there is no comprehensive plan presented regarding the mitigation of these challenges. This lack of clarity about implementation strategies creates significant risks for communities in the surrounding areas of the project.
“Our major concerns with the project centres on the potential harm that will occur from soil and air pollution, deforestation, and water degradation. These activities will impact the ecology of the area and lead to negative consequences that will disproportionately impact communities around the project area. Additionally, there is no sufficient compensation plan for affected communities who may lose their sources of livelihood.
“We, therefore, call on the Indorama and relevant regulatory agencies to take into account our concerns and act with due diligence towards promoting and enforcing best international environmentally sustainable practices. We also appeal to the communities in the region to keep an active watch on the progress of the development and alert the organisation and the relevant public to prevent intended harm and crisis where necessary.
“We remain committed to protecting the environment, and we encourage stakeholders to work together to mitigate the challenges associated with this project. We urge all parties involved to prioritize their commitment towards social responsibility.”