TITLE:
Mitigating the Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Exploitation: Issues of Compliance, Cost of Production, and Community Awareness
AUTHORS:
Jones Lewis Arthur
KEYWORDS:
Mitigation, Environmental Impacts, Compliance, Production Cost, Community Awareness
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Power and Energy Engineering,
Vol.8 No.9,
September
29,
2020
ABSTRACT: This study assessed the
effectiveness of mitigation measures adopted to address the environmental
effects of oil and gas industries from the perspective of compliance, cost of
production, and community awareness. The research applied a case study through
multi-method-qualitative and quantitative approaches. The target population of
547,368 people involved people in Takoradi, Shama and Newtown communities. A
sample size of 150 was selected and categorised under 36% for Shama,
30% for Newtown and 34% for Takoradi. A combination of probability (simple
random) and non-probability (cluster and convenience) sampling frames were used
to access the respondents for the study. Data collection tools were limited to
questionnaires and interview sessions. The descriptive statistics, Relative
Importance Index (RII) and significance testing using a one-sample t-test
module guided the analysis. Interview sessions were compiled into transcripts
and later categorized into themes that directly reflected the patterns of the
questions on the questionnaire. The conclusion rated major decisions in
mitigating oil and gas impacts on the environment as first for conscious effort
to package fuel and other chemicals in safe storages, followed by the use of
best road systems to reduce the risk of accidents, then application of strict
rules and regulations to curb impacts and lastly capacity building for
participants in the oil and gas production industry. While significant measures
have been adopted to mitigate the effects of oil and gas exploration, there
remain challenges with effectiveness as a result of weakness in community
involvement efforts, lack of motivation, weak laws and regulations and loss of
respect. For effectiveness in reducing the challenges to mitigate the
environmental impacts of the oil and gas production activity, policymakers, as
well as the practitioners in the oil production industry, are advised to
motivate people into buying into their policy to reduce such impacts.