The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it will give more emphasis to preserving the environment in its business operations to sustain profitability.
The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, said this in a statement on Tuesday by Mr Ndu Ughamadu, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, in Abuja.
Baru said at the 2016 Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Week at the NNPC Towers, that the move would ultimately save lives.
He noted that the NNPC would continue to execute and encourage HSE policies and programmes in alignment with the conventions of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
UNEP has six categories of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs): biodiversity, land, regional seas, marine environment, atmosphere, and waste and chemical pollution.
“Business sustainability requires processes in which we manage our financial, social and environmental risks, obligations and opportunities to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future generation.
“This will ultimately save lives, ensure sustainable development while supporting economic growth and happiness for the future generation,’’ he said.
According to him, the NNPC goal is to attain the highest standards of excellence, to maintain and continuously improve a comprehensive HSE management system by documentation.
He reiterated that the NNPC had made HSE a core component of every aspect of its business and would help to raise awareness on safety of the environment.
The Group Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services, NNPC, Mr Isa Inuwa, said the HSE week was a yearly corporate-wide activity.
“It showcases achievements recorded in HSE with a view to creating awareness to strengthen the measures already in place to reposition NNPC in the pursuit of transforming into a world class oil and gas company.
“The NNPC must strive to identify and minimise, if not eliminate, unsafe acts or conditions, carry out hazard surveillance and comply with set HSE rules and regulations,’’ he said. (NAN)