- It has been reported that flouting environment norms, the Angolan government has granted exemption to the US oil company Chevron to dump tons of hazardous oil waste into ocean shallows near the coast of Cabinda.
It has been reported that flouting environment norms, the Angolan government has granted exemption to the US oil company Chevron to dump tons of hazardous oil waste into ocean shallows near the coast of Cabinda.
According to reports, the Angolan government has granted permission till July 2023 in two old shallow water areas, Block 0 and Block 14, just off the coast of Cabinda. The estimated impact would be discharge of at least 12,000 tons of drill cuttings and 6 million litres of oil per year.
Angola had adopted a zero-waste policy by Angola as early as to 2014. Such a permission to Chevron, experts say will be a major threat to marine life and ecosystems, eventually polluting coastlines posing a major hazard to human health. Environment activists are up in arms urging President João Lourenço to enforce the law and ensure all foreign companies comply with the zero-discharge policy.
Ministry, it was reported that defended the decision as well within its legal rights accorded by Decree 97/14 to issue exemptions in “special circumstances” that prevented the operator from compliance.
Also read;
https://trendsnafrica.com/ruling-party-retains-power-in-angola/
https://trendsnafrica.com/angola-to-launch-first-oil-platform/
Analysts point out that the local development of Cabinda has been ignored by the authorities even though, it accounts for more than half of Angola’s oil output. While other oil companies operating in Angola’s offshore fields have invested in health, education, environmental and infrastructure projects for the benefits of local communities, there has been hardly any willingness to invest in basic infrastructure or other economic development projects for the enclave.
