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China Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) Uganda Limited, an oil and gas company operating in the Albertine Graven has called on communities around the shores of Lake Albert in Buhuka parish, Kyangwali sub-county, Kikuube district, to interest themselves in conserving the environment through the proper disposal of plastics and other wastes. 

Buhuka parish hosts the Kingfisher oilfield being developed by CNOOC that is spread over approximately 344sq km in the Lake Albert rift basin. 

CNOOC officials and their contractors in a bid to promote environmental protection engaged the community and carried out a cleaning campaign under the theme Stop Plastic Pollution Today. 

One of the locals collects the bottles and other waste. (All Photos by Peter Abaanabasazi)

During the campaign, which was conducted in commemoration of World Environmental Day, officials collected plastic bottles and polythene bags and planted trees around the Kingfisher field. 

Davine Kima, the head of corporate affairs at CNOOC, said the initiative is aimed at promoting good health and also demonstrating to the communities the importance of having a plastic-free environment. 

She noted that they have plans to plant over 300 trees around the Kingfisher development field adding that collected plastic was going to be disposed of in a proper way. 

Wang Han-Yong the quality, health, safety and environment head of department at CNOOC collects plastics.

Kima added that the company is going to continue sensitising the community on the way of protecting the environment adding that the company is in the process of acquiring a plastic shredder to strengthen the efforts of proper disposal of plastics in their area of operation. 

Wang Han-Yong, the quality, health, safety, and environment head at CNOOC, commended the local communities for embracing the exercise adding the protection of the environment is not one individual responsibility but it needs collective effort. 

He noted that the company has been undertaking efforts aimed at restoring and preserving nature and the environment adding that as part of the activities, the company is currently engaged in tree planting campaigns, and biodiversity and livelihood enhancement activities in Buhuka flats to contribute to reforestation efforts. 

Davine Kima, the head of cooperate affairs at CNOOC remarks before they kicked off the exercise.

“The World Environmental Day serves as a reminder for individuals, organisations and governments to unit in the protection and improvement of our environment, CNOOC recognizes the significance of this day and strives to play an active role in environmental conservation efforts, the company aims to enhance its corporate image and foster stronger relationship by serving as an exemplar for health, safety and environmental protection promotion in Kingfisher oil field oil development area host communities,” he noted.  

Zakaria Lubega, the corporate social responsibility at CNOOC said that efforts aimed at creating awareness about the dangers of plastic in the environment are much needed. 

He noted the issue of poor disposal of plastics is still a big challenge adding that plastics especially bottles are always disposed of in Lake Albert and this affects the life of aquatic animals in the lake and the water. 

CNOOC officials plant trees as they launched the tree planting campaign.

Dismas Bihemaiso, the Nsonga A land site chairman, commended the company for the campaign adding, that there is a need for the government and stakeholders to sensitise the public about the proper ways of managing garbage and plastics on the shores of Lake Albert. 

He noted that there is increasing poor disposal of bottles in the area where plastics are always blown by the winds into the lake to contaminate the waters which are always used by the community, something he said puts their lives at risk of contracting waterborne diseases. 

After the exercise, they donated an assortment of items that included dustbins to the local communities, Buhuka Primary School, Buhuka Health Centre III, and Starlight Primary School among others.