The Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye, Friday, February 21 implored Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigeria Council, to reduce and totally eliminate gas flaring in the country.
Ezemonye made this plea while welcoming participants to the 2020 Student Technical Symposium and Exhibition (STSE) hosted by Igbinedion University, Okada.
He said the plea becomes necessary knowing well the hazard gas flaring causes to the environment and human.
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With the theme: ‘Exploring Cleaner Oil and Gas Production Technology for a Sustainable Global Energy Industry’, the Vice Chancellor said the theme was apt, futuristic, pragmatic and appropriate, stressing that it captures the essence of the current trend in the exploration of gas resources against the backdrop of global focus.
Emphasizing that every oil and gas activity goes with the cost of gas flaring, Ezemonye noted that mitigation and control become necessary for a safer environment.
“SPE, you must join in this pursuit that gas flaring is eliminated in this country because of its hazardous effect.
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“No oil and gas activities take place without environmental cost. Why control is necessary, mitigation remains a viable option”, he said.
Ezemonye, however, posited that this year’s SPE-STSE would provide platform for professional to enhance their technical and professional competence.
Speaking, Chairman, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Nigeria Council, Joseph Nwakwue, said the symposium was to make sure students members of SPE get a fresh shape of the society’s activities.
He noted that, as professionals, they are concerned about producing oil and gas in a most environmentally sensible manner, thereby leaving a sustainable system for children unborn.
“We are not an irresponsible Industry. We are industry that is sensitive to its environment and that intends to leave a sustainable system for our children.
“Our business is to make sure we produce oil and gas in the most environmentally sensible manner; to produce and use oil and gas in the most environmentally sensible manner” he posited.
The Chairman, however, confessed that the industry has not be so environmentally responsible looking at what is happening in Ogoniland and other areas in the Niger Delta.
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He stressed that things are gradually changing in this regard, adding that to make such change happen, people with professional skills and that are imaginative, creative with modern technology are needed.
