Kojo Agbenor-Efunam

Principal Programme Officer

Oil and Gas
kojo.efunam@gmail.com OR
Kojo.agbenor-efunam@epa.gov.gh
Environmental Assessment Guidelines for
Oil and Gas Development in Ghana
Ebenezer Appah-Sampong
Chief Programme Officer
PPME
ebenezer.appah-
sampong@epa.gov.gh
&
SCOPE OF PRESENTATION
Introduction
Environmental Policy & EIA
Relevant Environmental laws and Guidelines
Environmental Assessment Procedures and Oil and Gas
Development
Conclusions & Way foward
Introduction
Formal EIA system Established 1994
Components were
Policy Framework
Legislative Instruments
Administrative Procedures
Institutional Capacities and Responsibilities
Public Consultation

Three Different stages
Foundation stage procedures, legal regime
Consolidation stage capacity building, decentralization, guidelines
development
Maturity Stage application to complex projects, ICT, SEA,
experience sharing

National Environmental Policy
1
9
9
1


NEP formulated
to
provide the
framework for the
implementation of
NEAP


u
l
t
i
m
a
t
e

a
i
m



to
improve the
surroundings,
living conditions
and the quality of
life of the entire
citizenry,
both present and
future.
P
o
l
i
c
y

s
e
e
k
s


to ensure
reconciliation
between economic
development and
natural resource
conservation - to
make a high quality
environment a key
element supporting
the countrys
economic and social
development.
The National Environmental Policy puts emphasis on prevention and sustainable development.
National Environmental Policy
Objectives
integrate environmental considerations in sectoral,
structural and socio-economic planning at the national,
regional, district and grassroots levels
guide development in accordance with quality
requirements to prevent, reduce, and as far as possible,
eliminate pollution and nuisances
National Environmental Policy Principles
use of incentives in addition to regulatory measures
use of most cost-effective means to achieve environmental objective
delegation of decision-making and action to the most appropriate
level of government
polluter pays for the cost of preventing and eliminating pollution and
nuisances caused by him
public participation in environmental decision-making
international co-operation.
National Environmental Policy & EIA
institute and implement an environmental
quality control programme by requiring prior
environmental impact assessments of all
new investments that would be deemed to
affect the quality of the environment
Environmental Protection Agency Act 1994, Act 490
(parts 1&II)

Environmental Assessment Regulations 1999, LI 1652


Legal Backing for Environmental
Assessment
EPA Act 1994, 490 Part 1
Establishment of the Agency

12. Environmental
impact assessment.

Environmental Quality Guidelines
Noise
Effluent Discharge
Quality
Oil and Gas
Waste
Management
Guidelines
Health Care
Waste
Management
Guidelines
Ambient
Air Quality
Installation and
operation of
communication
base stations
Installation and
operation of
LPG Refilling
Plants
Institutional Arrangements
EPA is the lead Agency in Ghana for environmental
assessment matters

Environmental Assessment and Audit Dept

Relevant Sectoral Departments-Petroleum, Mining, Natural
Resources, etc

Other Regulatory institutions


Scope of Environmental Assessment
Application
Undertakings listed in schedules 1 and 2
Undertakings located in environmentally sensitive areas
All sectors are covered
EPAs opinion

Integrated definition of Environment: biophysical, social,
institutional, public health issues

EA Procedures
Registration
Screening
Scoping
EIA Study
EIS Review
Decision Making
SCREENING
25 WD
INSPECTION
PER REVIEW
DECISION
DRAFT EIS REVIEW
(Committee)
50 WD
EIS FINALISED

DRAFT EIS SUBMISSION

SUBMISSION OF
EA APPLICATION
(Registration Form)
EIA STUDY
SCOPING
(Terms of Reference)
EP DECLINED
EP ISSUED
15 WD
EP ISSUED
EP DECLINED
EIS REVISION
PUBLIC
HEARING
(Panel)
EIA - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMNET EA - ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
EIS - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT EP - ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT
PER - PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
PEA - PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
PH - PUBLIC HEARING
WD - WORKING DAYS REQUIRED FOR REVIEW
Proponent Action
EPA Action
Public
EIA Required
EP ISSUED
EP DECLINED
PEA Required
Revision Required
Revision Required
Approval
Recommended
Approval
Recommended
No EIA
Required
Public Hearing
Required
PER
SUBMISSION
PUBLIC
HEARING
(Panel)
ADMINISTRATIVE FLOW CHART OF THE EA PROCEDURE
EIA Processes - Screening
Schedule 1 Initial
Assessment
Schedule 2 Mandatory EIA
Schedule 5
Environmentally Sensitive
Areas
Screening Decisions
Initial Assessment
Preliminary Environmental Assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment
Strategic Environmental Assessment Policies, Plans and
Programmes
Oil and Gas Proposals
Schedule 1
Establishment of petroleum products storage facilities
Crude oil and natural gas production facilities
Oil and Gas Proposals
Schedule 2
oil and gas fields development;
construction of off-shore and on-shore pipelines;
construction of oil and gas separation, processing, handling
and storage facilities. d. construction of oil refineries;
construction of product depots for the storage of petrol, gas
or diesel which are located within 3 kilometers of any
commercial, industrial or residential areas.


Levels of Assessment for
Offshore Upstream Activities
Registration
Surveys
Preliminary Environmental Assessment
Drilling of Wells
Full EIA
Petroleum Production
Full EIA
Construction of off-
shore and on-shore
pipelines
Decommissioning/Abandonment Plan
Decommissioning and
Abandonment
Scoping
Extensive
Consultation
Processes
Secondary
and Primary
Data
Collection
Identification
of key issues
Scoping Ghanaian Context
Notice to be issued by the proponent to
Relevant ministries, depts., Assemblies

Advertise in at lest one national newspaper & local newspaper
(if any)

Scoping reports to be made available in the locality for
inspection by general public

EPA examines scoping report and comments within 25 working
days
Outputs of Scoping
Scoping Report
Draft Terms of Reference -Specific guidelines
on impacts to be studied, how they are to be
measured, evaluated and presented in the EIS
Key Issues
Relevant baseline data to be generated
Comprehensive Consultee Lists


EIA Study for Oil and Gas Projects
Based on approved TOR.
Baseline survey and inventory,
Development proposal options,
Detailed description of the project
Potential impact identification, prediction,
Mitigation and alternative considerations
Monitoring Plan
Environmental Management Plan and
Other requirements of the TOR.
Initiate a public information programme

EIS
The findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment are
compiled into an Environmental Impact Statement
Draft EIS
Revised EIS
Final EIS

EIS Review
Technical Review

Public Review

Review Decisions
Environmental Permitting Decision
(EPD)
Issuance of an Environmental Permit with conditions such as:
Submit Annual Environmental Reports every 12 months
Submit Environmental Management Plans within 18 months of
issuance of permit and revised every three years
Submit periodic monitoring reports (frequency to be specified)
Give notice of commencement of operation of the undertaking
and
Obtain Environment Certificate within 24 months of
satisfactory operations and compliance with environmental
permitting conditions

Oil & Gas Experiences
Full test of the system (EIA)
West African Gas Pipeline 2004

Jubilee Field Development and Management - 2008

Gas Utilization Project

Oil Services Terminal Development

Surveys & Exploration (IA & PER)

Servicing Activities


Some Challenges and Lessons
Innovative & Extensive Consultations Required at all stages
National and International Capacities for Review
Need for comprehensive sector specific guidelines and
standards led to the development of the oil and gas guidelines
for the offshore.
Inter-sectoral guidelines
Management of public processes and expectations and
competing interest
Setting of permitting conditions
Follow-up mechanisms
Confidence and technical competence
Way Forward
Deepen public consultation processes
Build national technical capacity
Develop additional guidelines and standards
Develop further legislations
Develop monitoring capacity
Deepen international cooperation and collaboration
Improve institutional collaboration

THANK YOU
MORE INFORMATION @
www.epaoilandgas.org
www.epa.gov.gh