Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Indorama-Nigeria, owners of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals and Fertiliser Group, has announced that its operations are in compliance with all applicable national and state environmental regulations and adherence to good international best practices.
The fertiliser and petrochemicals firm explained that before it embarks on a new project, a detailed Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Study with the Federal Ministry of Environment guidelines are conducted, under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Rivers State Ministry of Environment.
This is as a group known as Alliance for the Defence of Eleme had written the International Finance Corporation, IFC, African Development Bank, AfDB, and the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund, EAIF, warning them of litigation before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt with Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/23/2024, over alleged environmental pollution by Indorama.
The company during a facility tour of its plants in Eleme by newsmen, in reaction to the allegations by the Alliance for the Defence of Eleme, reassured its financial partners, government agencies, host communities, and other stakeholders that its operations were environment friendly, in line national and international regulatory standards.
Head of Corporate Communications, Indorama-Nigeria, Dr Jossy Nkwocha, said there was no subsisting court order whatsoever against Indorama, as the Court order only required Indorama to ensure that its operations do not lead to the pollution of the environment pending determination of the motion on notice.
Nkwocha said Indorama, being a responsible corporate citizen, was committed to the goal of zero harm, safe and healthy environment by implementing an effective environment management system as an integral part of her operations, and described the allegations by the group as mischievous, misleading and mendacious.
According to him, Indorama has implemented a robust environment management and monitoring system, and the environmental performance was acknowledged by regulators and lenders.
He listed Indorama’s environment management system to include, “conducting regulatory-mandated environment audits and environmental evaluation studies under the supervision of relevant regulatory agency reps and submit to relevant authorities for review and approval as per defined frequency.”
Others are, “Periodic monitoring (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly as defined) of noise, ambient air quality, stack emissions, treated effluent quality, groundwater quality, recipient water body (Okulu River) water quality and biodiversity etc. by in-house team and accredited consultant and benchmarked against national limits and International Finance Corporation/World Bank standards.
“We keep our standards for emissions better than the Federal Ministry of Environment as the IFC/WB norms are more stringent and we as responsible citizens want to ensure minimum emissions and with that object, we select the best technology and equipment to minimize emissions and make our plants future proof.
“Quarterly submission of these data in form of Environment Compliance Report to Federal Ministry of Environment, FMEnv, Rivers State Ministry of Environment, RSMEnv, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA.
“Conduct internal and external audits including Regulatory visits and audits. Periodic renewal of environmental permits and authorizations from relevant regulatory authorities.
“Environmental performance is the major criteria considered for plant technology selection for new development. The environmental criteria considered are low energy per ton of production, low water consumption and minimum effluent generation, low noise from plant operation, minimal purge, and emissions. Extensive environmental and risk assessment studies and incorporation of recommendations in plant design and operational monitoring.
“It also includes Installation of best-in-class available detection and control systems for effective operational control and prompt actions. All pollution abatement equipment is designed for appropriate capacity considering the worst-case scenario. Installed detectors across the plants and all safety devices are designed considering the worst-case scenario.”