APA-Dakar (Seneggal) In this interview, Dr. Abdou Gueye, environmentalist and specialist in the governance of extractive industries (oil and gas), unpacks the potential environmental and social risks of the offshore exploitation of these resources.
By Abdourahmane Diallo
What are the risks of offshore oil and gas to the marine ecosystem?
DAG: It is important to emphasise that there is no such thing as zero risk, particularly when it comes to oil and gas development. Oil and gas development is a process. It starts with seismic activities, followed by drilling, then development through the installation of facilities. In the upstream phase, however, production is the longest phase. As for decommissioning, it takes between two and five years to return to a state of zero. Exploitation of a deposit can last from 15 to 30 years if the deposit is profitable.
Each phase has specific impacts on the marine ecosystem, particularly on marine biodiversity, characterised by the diversity of species, ecosystems and genetic diversity. These impacts can also affect
fishing. At present, Senegal’s maritime space is home to two macro-economic activities: fishing and hydrocarbons. The challenge is therefore to find ways of ensuring that these two activities cohabit to avoid compromising the interests of fishing communities.
Platform accidents have been observed, affecting not only marine biodiversity but also fishing activities. In Senegal, no major accident has yet been recorded or noted, but this is to be expected, because, I repeat, there is no such thing as zero risk.
It is therefore possible that an oil spill could occur at the Sangomar field, although this cannot be confirmed. An oil spill often leads to a loss of resources and products, which is not desirable for either the company or the state. It is therefore essential to do everything possible to guarantee the safety of oil and gas activities.
If Senegal makes efforts in terms of regulation, control and requirements, it is possible to avoid suffering the same consequences as other countries such as Nigeria or Chad. It is therefore crucial to work to conserve the opportunities offered by these two sectors, namely fisheries and the oil industry.
What might these environmental impacts be?
certain commercial species, notably fish. It is therefore essential to do everything possible to avoid environmental damage.The oil industry can cause less damage if preventive measures are taken to minimise environmental impacts. Oil platforms, which are essential equipment in this industry, do not have a significant impact because of their controlled size. Under the regulatory framework, these installations must be protected, with a safety distance varying between 500 metres and 1 kilometre. Compared to the extent of the marine environment, this distance is insignificant.
However, it is not the platforms themselves that cause damage, but rather industrial practices. When the product is extracted, the first treatment on the platform separates the product (crude oil or natural gas) from the impurities. These impurities can generate waste which, if not properly controlled and discharged into the sea, can
contaminate water and marine species.
There is a regulatory framework that prohibits the discharge of this toxic and potentially dangerous waste into the marine environment. The challenge is therefore to ensure that these practices are monitored while respecting the regulatory framework, so as not to allow operators to dump this waste on board as they please.
Fishermen are already complaining about the scarcity of resources. How could offshore oil and gas development affect fishing activities and the livelihoods of coastal communities?
DAG:It has been observed that fish are becoming increasingly scarce. This scarcity can be linked to various factors such as climate change, overfishing or unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. The oil and gas industry is exacerbating this situation by taking up space in the marine environment, thereby reducing potential fishing grounds.
Submarine installations located around 150 km from the coast and at depths of 2,800 metres, as is the case at Saint-Louis, do not have a significant impact on fishing activities, particularly small-scale fishing.
However, the floating production, storage and offloading units (FPSOs) are located 40 km from the coast, along pipeline or connection lines and at parking points. These FPSOs must be protected by safety perimeters. There is also a facility located 10 km from the coast, which is a potential fishing zone called “Diatara.” This area converges with the Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) installation, which may reduce the fishing perimeters for this community. Even if there are no discharges or pollution, the equipment installed could reduce fishing areas, which could affect fishermen’s activities.
In comparison, the Sangomar project is located 90 km from the coast in relation to Fatick and 100 km from Dakar. The installations are located at a depth of between 700 and 1400 metres. It is well known that small-scale fishing activities that are authorised generally do not exceed a depth of 200 metres, but in the event of an oil spill,
this could affect coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and nursery areas.
Installations located at a depth of 700 metres can affect industrial and semi-industrial fishing.
In this case, can we say that the fishermen of the Saloum Delta could be potential victims in the event of a problem?
explosions, well blowouts and capsizing of ships or tanks. These can lead to oil spills.It is also important to distinguish between two things: operational discharge and accidental spillage. Operational discharge concerns production water, drilling cuttings and drilling muds on the platform. If this waste is properly managed, the complications associated with pollution can be reduced. However, accidents and accidental spills,
often linked to human error, can have a significant impact on the ecosystem and fisheries.
What measures are the government and oil companies taking to prevent and reduce the risks of marine pollution, habitat degradation and disruption of species?
DAG: An environmental and social impact assessment must be carried out for every project. These studies are carried out both during the exploration phase and the operating phase. With the revision of the new environmental code, these studies now take into account the seismic phase and decommissioning, because each phase has specific impacts.
With the knowledge we’ve already acquired in Mauritania, we thought it was appropriate that we should find the same ecological sensitivities in Senegal. After all, nothing separates us, apart from the border demarcation between the two countries. But we can say that we can do better. Let’s not forget that operators are not philanthropists. They are there to make money. They will also try to act according to their strategy.
It is therefore up to the state to determine what its interests are and where it can strengthen its knowledge and measures to better defend its interests in the context of offshore oil and gas development.
The state should no longer wait for the operators’ results before drawing up its planning strategy. It must first and foremost protect its own interests, by finding the means to carry out additional research and to have a standard model so that it can demand from operators which model or plan to adopt in relation to the ecosystem.
What is the level of scientific and technical knowledge of Senegal’s marine environment, and how can it be improved to better preserve the area’s biodiversity and economic potential?
DAG: Since the hydrocarbon discoveries in 2014, the government has made efforts at institutional, political and regulatory levels. This led to the revision of the constitution in 2016, the revision of the new petroleum code in 2019 and the new environment code in 2023. However, despite the numerous studies carried out by the state, there are limitations, notably the lack of information on discovery zones and other blocks located on the high seas.
Impact studies are currently being carried out, but much of the information is mainly controlled by the operators. These studies are carried out as part of environmental and social assessments. The state has also introduced another important tool, the strategic environmental assessment, and can draw up an environmental atlas to map sensitive areas.
However, there are limits, particularly when it comes to controlling scientific information on areas over 1,000 metres deep. To obtain this information, it is not enough to focus solely on the projects. It is necessary to understand the whole ecosystem, including the other blocks located in these areas.
The government could make additional efforts with research institutions such as the Dakar-Thiaroye Oceanographic Research Centre (CRODT) to obtain scientific information on these blocks. On the basis of this information, the state could support operators in their development and facilitate the consideration of sustainable management of resources, in particular fishing, whether industrial or artisanal.
The extractive sector currently generates more than €200 billion, while the oil sector still produces no more than €30 billion. The mining sector is therefore the one that brings in the most revenue for the state. It is therefore important to take steps to use the resources of these two sectors to promote sustainability, as exports
of fisheries resources also bring in over 200 billion to the Senegalese state.
Today, Africa has 54 states, including 19 oil and gas producing countries. Senegal could be the 20th.The policies put in place since the discovery era are to be commended. Not everything is perfect, but we are ahead of other African countries. The government is on the right track. We just need to strengthen our policy and place greater
emphasis on monitoring and scientific research to gain a better understanding of the marine environment. This will further facilitate the sustainable management of offshore resources.
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