Oil firms, NEMA disagree
May 17, 2010
THE environment watchdog, NEMA, and oil exploration companies have disagreed on the method of disposal of the dangerous wastes from drilling activities.
By Frank Mugabi
THE environment watchdog, NEMA, and oil exploration companies have disagreed on the method of disposal of the dangerous wastes from drilling activities.
Aryamanya Mugisha, the NEMA executive director, said they had been engaged in “endless†negotiations with the oil companies over the issue, but no solution had been agreed.
“Management of waste, especially the drilling mud and the cuttings, is a big challenge. We need more time to explore the best disposal solution,†Mugisha said.
He said the challenge was bigger where oil and gas discoveries have been made in sensitive ecological areas like game parks.
The NEMA boss was addressing members on the policy committee on environment during the inspection of oil exploration sites in Arua district on Saturday.
The committee, led by the chairperson and general duties minister in the office of the Prime Minister, Janat Mukwaya, also visited the exploration areas in Hoima and Buliisa districts.
To date, about 28 exploration and appraisal wells have been drilled in the country, leading to a build-up of the highly toxic drilling mud. Committee members noted that most of the sites they visited had exposed waste pits cordoned off by barbed wire.
According to scientific research, drill cuttings and associated wastes pose significant ecological effects because they may contain heavy metals and radionuclide minerals such as barite and bentonite.
The chemical content is dangerous to the surrounding environment, marine life, animals, birds and humans. Mugisha said all developers must provide solutions to issues arising out of their operations. But the remedies should be acceptable to the environment watchdog.
He revealed that Tullow Oil, which operates in the areas of Kaiso-Tonya in Hoima and Butiaba-Buliisa, tried disposing waste water through enhanced evaporation, but the method failed.
He said the company was thereafter asked to submit another plan on waste management by the end of last month, but it has not yet responded.
As a permanent solution is being sought, Mugisha said, the oil firms had been advised to collect and contain all the drilling wastes in one area.
Rashid Mugabe, the Neptune Petroleum, environment and community affairs manager, said they were drying and keeping the drill cuttings in steel containers to avoid contaminating the environment.
He, however, noted that though temporary, it was a costly procedure.
He said they had proposed to NEMA to consider using the cuttings in road construction, making blocks for putting up edifices or burying them.
Neptune is exploring for oil and gas in West Nile. The NEMA chief, however, said the cuttings had been tried in the construction of the Mbale-Kapchorwa road, but were discouraged after tests.
He further noted that although it is a requirement to restore the environment at the end of drilling, a number of sites still remain unrestored.
Some of these are in wildlife conservation areas. Mugisha said they had also asked the oil companies to submit restoration plans of areas where drilling has already taken place.
Minister Mukwaya commended Neptune for its restoration efforts. She also urged the local population to use the restored areas for farming.
THE environment watchdog, NEMA, and oil exploration companies have disagreed on the method of disposal of the dangerous wastes from drilling activities.
Aryamanya Mugisha, the NEMA executive director, said they had been engaged in “endless†negotiations with the oil companies over the issue, but no solution had been agreed.
“Management of waste, especially the drilling mud and the cuttings, is a big challenge. We need more time to explore the best disposal solution,†Mugisha said.
He said the challenge was bigger where oil and gas discoveries have been made in sensitive ecological areas like game parks.
The NEMA boss was addressing members on the policy committee on environment during the inspection of oil exploration sites in Arua district on Saturday.
The committee, led by the chairperson and general duties minister in the office of the Prime Minister, Janat Mukwaya, also visited the exploration areas in Hoima and Buliisa districts.
To date, about 28 exploration and appraisal wells have been drilled in the country, leading to a build-up of the highly toxic drilling mud. Committee members noted that most of the sites they visited had exposed waste pits cordoned off by barbed wire.
According to scientific research, drill cuttings and associated wastes pose significant ecological effects because they may contain heavy metals and radionuclide minerals such as barite and bentonite.
The chemical content is dangerous to the surrounding environment, marine life, animals, birds and humans. Mugisha said all developers must provide solutions to issues arising out of their operations. But the remedies should be acceptable to the environment watchdog.
He revealed that Tullow Oil, which operates in the areas of Kaiso-Tonya in Hoima and Butiaba-Buliisa, tried disposing waste water through enhanced evaporation, but the method failed.
He said the company was thereafter asked to submit another plan on waste management by the end of last month, but it has not yet responded.
As a permanent solution is being sought, Mugisha said, the oil firms had been advised to collect and contain all the drilling wastes in one area.
Rashid Mugabe, the Neptune Petroleum, environment and community affairs manager, said they were drying and keeping the drill cuttings in steel containers to avoid contaminating the environment.
He, however, noted that though temporary, it was a costly procedure.
He said they had proposed to NEMA to consider using the cuttings in road construction, making blocks for putting up edifices or burying them.
Neptune is exploring for oil and gas in West Nile. The NEMA chief, however, said the cuttings had been tried in the construction of the Mbale-Kapchorwa road, but were discouraged after tests.
He further noted that although it is a requirement to restore the environment at the end of drilling, a number of sites still remain unrestored.
Some of these are in wildlife conservation areas. Mugisha said they had also asked the oil companies to submit restoration plans of areas where drilling has already taken place.
Minister Mukwaya commended Neptune for its restoration efforts. She also urged the local population to use the restored areas for farming.