NLNG is highly committed to ensuring that our environment is protected and preserved for future generations. Our drive for sustainability is hinged on the following suite of activities.
Biodiversity Surveys and Monitoring
Monthly biodiversity surveys and biological monitoring is done to observe the state of flora and fauna that thrive on the Island. Diverse species of plants and animals are normally sighted during these surveys.
Discharges to Water
Key environmental indicators are regularly monitored to ensure compliance with permit conditions and applicable regulatory limits as it pertains to effluent discharge, with the results submitted to both NLNG Management and regulators at stipulated intervals. To ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and its own HSE policy, NLNG has adopted the principle of minimisation through abatement at source for aqueous effluents which have the potential of causing a negative impact on the receiving environment.
Sewage Treatment and Disposal
NLNG, in 2018, contracted a consultant to build a new and bigger Effluent Treatment Plant. In the extant facility, sewage and effluent from both the industrial and residential areas are treated prior to discharge into the recipient water body.
Solid Waste Management
NLNG's waste management strategy complies with the concepts of 'waste management hierarchy' and 'duty of care' for both on-site and off-site waste treatment and disposal activities. The principle adopted for solid waste is 'Cradle to Grave', which is essentially the proper and controlled handling, treatment and disposal of solid waste, underpinned by the 4R philosophy of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover. 'Duty of care' audits are regularly carried out with Federal and State Government regulators.
Non-Hazardous Waste
The incineration of combustible waste is carried out within NLNG's facility, as the fragile nature of Bonny Island does not allow for the creation of a landfill site. Non-hazardous solid wastes are temporarily stored on the plant site before being transported to treatment and/or disposal facilities off the Island. These facilities are duly accredited by the Federal Ministry of Environment and/or environmental sanitation authorities.
Hazardous Waste
In line with its policy of no harm to people and the environment and the promotion of sustainable development, the company ensures the proper management of its hazardous waste using the best practical environmental options after approvals from the Federal and State ministries of environment. Other waste management initiatives currently pursued by NLNG, particularly for hazardous waste, include the use of buyback and recovery schemes with original manufacturers.
Emissions to Air
For emissions to air, the principle adopted is minimisation through abatement at source. Dispersion modelling was employed in initial environmental investigations to predict possible areas of deposition of pollutant species for regulated parameters that could potentially be generated from NLNG's operations.
In order to monitor its operational foot print, there is continuous ambient air quality monitoring, while stack emissions monitoring is routinely carried out at identified areas within the plant fence and surrounding communities to ensure that air quality at the workplace and in the nearby settlements do not exceed regulatory tolerance limits for ambient air pollutants.
NLNG is also committed to addressing climate change challenges through the implementation of its Green House Gas (GHG) and Energy Management Plan.
On-Shore Power Supply to Marine Support Boats
NLNG charters several marine support boats for its shipment operation. These boats run on diesel oil. To conserve energy and to reduce air emission from the boats, an on-shore power supply project was initiated and completed in 2017. It provides the on-shore power supply to the boats when they were not in active sea operation. This has significantly reduced emissions, onboard noise, and vessel running hours, thereby improving the general working condition of the crew.
Clean Waterfront Initiatives
The Terminal has outstanding waste management practices, including providing waste management awareness to the workforce. It uses biodegradable bags in the terminal area. Despite measures taken by the terminal staff in keeping the waterfront clean, littered plastic bottles and debris are still washed into the river from the surrounding communities. To sustain efforts to keep the waterfront clean, NLNG's terminal management team introduced the Clean Waterfront Initiative, a quarterly clean-up exercise implemented by the terminal management and the workforce.
Plans are underway to extend the initiative and awareness to the communities where the plastics and debris originate.
