Company responsibility: LEKOIL Nigeria Limited is committed to demonstrating leadership in stewardship of the environment, employee health and safety, and social responsibility. The Company seeks to conduct the Company with the highest ethical standards in an overriding effort to make a positive impact in the communities where it operates.
Environmental regulations: Nigeria’s Environmental Impact Assessment Act (“EIAA”) requires every company whose activity or project is likely to have a significant effect on the environment to carry out an impact assessment programme before the commencement of the project. The assessment is to be referred to the Federal Ministry of Environment, the regulatory body charged with the responsibility of administering the EIAA, for approval. In addition, the EIAA classifies oil and gas development and construction of off-shore pipelines over 50 km in length among projects that will require environmental impact assessment to be conducted.
Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria The Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria (the “Guidelines”) were issued by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). The Guidelines mandate all licence holders or operators in the petroleum industry to adopt a systematic and integrated environmental management plan. They control the quality and quantity of industrial effluents associated with oil drilling activities/operations to ensure that such discharges do not cause any hazard to human health and living organisms. The Guidelines require that a mandatory environmental permit be obtained from the DPR before the commencement of seismic and oil drilling operations in Nigeria. An application for an environmental permit must be accompanied by an EIA report.
Employee safety: LEKOIL Nigeria Ltd’s highest priority is to ensure the safety, health and well-being of our employees and contractors. The Company is committed to implementing policies and procedures that will eliminate risks in the workplace. These include operational controls and procedures, proper job training, risk assessment and ongoing monitoring of working conditions.
Medical Outreach in Ikuru Town
In December 2014 we concluded the Memoranda of Understanding with[nbsp]the leaders of the host community, Ikuru and the other host communities of Ugama Ekede, Ayama Ekede, Asuk Ama and Asuk Oyet, in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State surrounding Otakikpo. These agreements followed our engagement with local communities since we acquired the interest in Otakikpo and began our consultation process, at the same time as commencing medical outreach services.