Respond To Public Concerns  About The Oil and Gas Sector In Tanzania and East Africa

 

Oil and gas company activities can be very large undertakings in physical and economic terms. They may bring many benefits to host communities. They may also involve a range of impacts relating to health and safety, economic, social and/or environmental concerns.

This article provides insight into how the oil and gas companies operating in East Africa respond to most common public complaints relating to odours, public safety issues, smoke, noise, and spills.

Top Three Public Concerns Oil and Gas In Tanzania And East Africa

1.Flaring
Flare gas Is the unwanted gas burning to the atmosphere from the operations. And the process of releasing the flare gas is called Flaring. Flaring has become a primary public concern.

2.Spills
Oil and gas activities including transportation of oil and gas using the pipeline, road tankers, marine vessels, pose a risk of spills of oil and other materials that pollute water and contaminate soil. These spills harm animals, species, and livelihoods.

3.Animal Health
Oil and gas activities take place in remote areas where people depend on traditional livelihoods such as agriculture, hunting, and fishing. Prompt changes in the ecosystem may have a negative impact on animal health, and potentially contribute to poverty in local communities

Addressing Public Complaints.

To deal with these concern oil and gas companies may identify and contact those who may directly affect projects. They also notify people who own land affected by pipelines, oil and gas well or oil and gas facilities

Here is a consideration for oil and gas companies when dealing with public concern in Tanzania and East Africa.

People are involved in the decision-making process before project decisions are made or impact occurs. This usually during the planning stage of the project. As a result, people become aware of the disadvantages and benefit of the projects.

People are fully informed about the scope of the projects. Its benefit and impacts.

To control spills the government requires oil and gas facilities to be designed and operated to minimize spills and risk of contamination. When the spill occurs, oil companies clean them up quickly.

Host government, oil companies, communities and NGO’s must work together in open and honest manner through the life cycle of a project to ensure good relationship through the life of an oil and gas project and maximize the project benefits to the East African people.

By Hussein Boffu

Hussein. Boffu@tanzaniapetroleum.com

+255655376543