Dr. Jossy Nkwocha, Indorama’s Head of Corporate Communication (third from right) explaining the environment friendly workings of the plant to journalists in Eleme on Friday
Leading petrochemicals and fertilizer company, Indorama Nigeria Limited has reiterated it’s commitment to environment friendly operation and promotion of zero harm, safe and healthy environment by implementing effective environment management system as an integral part of it’s operations.
Dr. Jossy Nkwocha, the company’s Head, Corporate Communications who stated this in a press conference at its Eleme plant said indorama is implementing a robust environment management and monitoring system, and the environmental performance is acknowledged by regulators and lenders
According to Nkwocha, who led reporters on a guided tour of the facility snowing aspects of Indorama’s operation, the company is complying with all applicable national and state environmental regulations and adhering to good international best practices.
Dr. Nkwocha added that the company has achieved Installation of best-in-class available detection and control systems for effective operational control and prompt actions.
According to him,the pollution abatement equipment put in place by the company is designed for appropriate capacity considering the worst-case scenario. Installed detectors across the plants and all safety devices are designed considering worst-case scenario.
He added that the company is operating in compliance with Federal Ministry of Environment and Rivers State Ministry of Environment guidelines
While reacting to recent media reports circulated by a group ,”Alliance for the Defence of Eleme” supposedly sent to International Finance Corporation (IFC), African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), stating that the funding agencies “have committed financial assistance to Indorama for various projects in Nigeria” Nkwocha said a restraining court order against the company has been vacated due to time lapse.
According to him “As a responsible corporate organization, we do not intend to make comments on a matter in Court but since the above-mentioned group of persons have already put this matter in the public space through the Media, we just wish to publicly reassure our Financial Partners, Government Agencies, Host Communities, and other Stakeholders that our operations are environment friendly and have been been operated under national and international standards.
“While it is true that the court had issued an exparte order, which order has since expired by effluxion of time, that 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. On 17th April,2024 when the matter came up, the court ordered parties to file pleadings and made no reference to any order, because as of the moment, there is no subsisting order whatsoever against Indorama.
“As we have painstakingly shown you during the facility tour and the detailed presentation on our Environmental Management System, Indorama, being a responsible corporate citizen, is committed to the goal of zero harm, safe and healthy environment by implementing effective environment management system as an integral part of her operations ” he said.
He added that Indorama’s standards for emissions are higher better than Federal Ministry of Environment as the IFC/WB norms are more stringent
While listingbsome key highlights of Indorama’s environment management system Nkwocha said 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 by in-house team and accredited consultant and benchmarked against National limits and International Finance Corporation / World Bank standards (IFC/WB).
According to him,the company keeps its standards for emissions better than Federal Ministry of Environment as the IFC/WB norms are more stringent and we as responsible citizen want to ensure minimum emissions and with that object, it selects 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).
He also said the company is subjected to the conduct of internal and external audit including regulatory visits and audits by relevant agencies while also conducting environmental awareness programs to enhance awareness among employees, contractor workforce and other stakeholders.
