Indorama operations not polluting the environment – company

• Company committed to goal of zero harm, safe, healthy environment

• Implements effective environment management system

Ben Eguzozie, in Port Harcourt

Indorama Nigeria, whose operations in the country straddle petrochemicals, and fertiliser, says its production processes do not pollute the environment, 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 its operations.

Jossy Nkwocha, head, corporate communications of the company told some journalists at the company’s corporate headquarters in Eleme near Port Harcourt, Rivers State, that “to achieve our commitment, we have implemented a robust Environment Management and Monitoring System, and the environmental performance is acknowledged by Regulators and Lenders. We are putting efforts into continual improvement of our environmental systems and performance”.

Nkwocha said the company publicly reassures “our financial partners, government agencies, host communities, and other stakeholders that our operations are environment friendly and have been operated under national and international standards”.

He gave key highlights of Indorama’s environment management system to include: compliance with all applicable national and state environmental regulations, and adherence to good international best practices; environmental performance is the major criteria considered for plant technology selection for new development. The environmental criteria considered are low energy per ton of production, low water consumption and minimum effluent generation, low noise from plant operation, minimal purge, and emissions. Extensive environmental and risk assessment studies and incorporation of recommendations in plant design and operational monitoring.

It also includes installation of best-in-class available detection and control systems for effective operational control and prompt actions. All pollution abatement equipment is designed for appropriate capacity considering the worst-case scenario. Installed detectors across the plants and all safety devices are designed considering the worst-case scenario.

Other safety environment management system are undertaking detailed Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) study under the federal ministry of environment guidelines, which is inclusive and covers study of environmental and social components including stakeholder engagement under supervision of federal and Rivers State ministry of environment.

The fertiliser and petrochemicals company said the study conducted by FMEnv accredited consultant was submitted to the ministry, which undergoes public disclosure for 21 working days for public review & comments before panel review and subsequent approval from ministry.

Nkwocha was reacting to a recent claim by a group, “Alliance for the Defence of Eleme” which circulated media write-ups, and supposedly sent to the 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”.

The group cited a Federal High Court Port Harcourt FHC/PH/CS/23/2024, allegedly “restraining Indorama from further pollution of our environment”. However, the court order expired with effluxion of time.

However, Indorama roundly rejected this, claiming that it carries “periodic preventive maintenance of pollution abatement and pollution control infrastructures to ensure optimal functionality; conducts regulatory mandated environment audit and environmental evaluation study under supervision of relevant regulatory agency representatives, and submits same to relevant authorities for review and approval as per defined frequency.

Indorama is currently ramping up its fertiliser capacity to phase III. On March 28, this year, it signed a $75 million loan facility with the AfDB Group to enable it (Indorama) to increase its fertilizer production and develop a port terminal for exports, supporting food production and food security across regional and international markets, while fostering job creation in Nigeria. The expansion will include the development of a third urea fertilizer production line and a new shipping terminal at Indorama’s facilities in Port Harcourt. The new production line is expected to have an annual capacity of 1.4 million metric tons of urea, one of the most widely used fertilizers worldwide.

The company says, it equally undertakes 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, etc., by in-house team and accredited consultant; and benchmarked against national limits and IFC/ World Bank (IFC/WB) standards.

It said, it keeps standards for emissions better than the Nigerian environment federal ministry, as the IFC/WB norms are more stringent. It added that it selects the best technology and equipment to minimize emissions and make its plants future proof.