• Authored By: EPRC Uganda
15 Oct 2015

Government agencies involved in containing effects of climate change in the oil and gas industry have been asked to walk the talk and implement key policies and plans. During a breakfast discussion at Serena hotel Kampala on Monday the ministry of water and environment permanent secretary David Oblong noted there are policies to curb climate change which only need implementation. “What remains is walking the talk-strong contingency measures are needed. We need to must try to deal with catastrophic event, “he noted the discussion was held on the theme “Albertine Graben-is Uganda prepared for change? Uganda which has so far hit about 6.5billion barrels of oil, with just under half of this recoverable, is set to move to the development stage but discussions about how to minimize the devastating environmental impact that could occur in this delicate industry continue although some level of preparedness exists. There is however, little awareness on what needs to be done if an environmental disaster control occurred.

Climate change effects currently ravaging the country include; prolonged drought, hailstorms, heat waves, lightening and flooding. There are not related to the oil industry activities but there could be indirect impacts changing livelihoods and life styles both for humans and nature as production starts.Obong said mobile equipment’s for detecting oil spillage is already in place in Packwach and Bungoma.The Germany Ambassador to Uganda reminded the country of its abundant resources including water resources and huge biodiversity and animals in the Albertine Graben. Because of this bio-diversity Blomeyer advised that the country should prepare for change beyond the oil age. “The difficult task is reconciling the short term needs of government development versus the long term protection of the environment”, he noted. The Executive Director of National Environment Management Authority, Dr.Tom Okurut, said an oil spill contingency response strategy draft is ready. The strategy lays the first responsibility in Government agencies involved in containing effects of climate change in the oil and gas industry have been asked to walk the talk and implement key policies and plans. During a breakfast discussion at Serena hotel Kampala on Monday the ministry of water and environment permanent secretary David Oblong noted there are policies to curb climate change which only need implementation. “What remains is walking the talk-strong contingency measures are needed. We need to must try to deal with catastrophic event, “he noted the discussion was held on the theme “Albertine Graben-is Uganda prepared for change? Uganda which has so far hit about 6.5billion barrels of oil, with just under half of this recoverable, is set to move to the development stage but discussions about how to minimize the devastating environmental impact that could occur in this delicate industry continue although some level of preparedness exists. There is however, little awareness on what needs to be done if an environmental disaster control occurred.

Climate change effects currently ravaging the country include; prolonged drought, hailstorms, heat waves, lightening and flooding. There are not related to the oil industry activities but there could be indirect impacts changing livelihoods and life styles both for humans and nature as production starts.Obong said mobile equipment’s for detecting oil spillage is already in place in Packwach and Bungoma.The Germany Ambassador to Uganda reminded the country of its abundant resources including water resources and huge biodiversity and animals in the Albertine Graben. Because of this bio-diversity Blomeyer advised that the country should prepare for change beyond the oil age. “The difficult task is reconciling the short term needs of government development versus the long term protection of the environment”, he noted. The Executive Director of National Environment Management Authority, Dr.Tom Okurut, said an oil spill contingency response strategy draft is ready. The strategy lays the first responsibility in case of any natural resource disasters in the hands of the oil firms. The challenge is to minimize the the impact of oil exploration Okurut said.Government agencies involved in containing effects of climate change in the oil and gas industry have been asked to walk the talk and implement key policies and plans. During a breakfast discussion at Serena hotel Kampala on Monday the ministry of water and environment permanent secretary David Oblong noted there are policies to curb climate change which only need implementation. “What remains is walking the talk-strong contingency measures are needed. We need to must try to deal with catastrophic event, “he noted the discussion was held on the theme “Albertine Graben-is Uganda prepared for change? Uganda which has so far hit about 6.5billion barrels of oil, with just under half of this recoverable, is set to move to the development stage but discussions about how to minimize the devastating environmental impact that could occur in this delicate industry continue although some level of preparedness exists. There is however, little awareness on what needs to be done if an environmental disaster control occurred.

Climate change effects currently ravaging the country include; prolonged drought, hailstorms, heat waves, lightening and flooding. There are not related to the oil industry activities but there could be indirect impacts changing livelihoods and life styles both for humans and nature as production starts.Obong said mobile equipment’s for detecting oil spillage is already in place in Packwach and Bungoma.The Germany Ambassador to Uganda reminded the country of its abundant resources including water resources and huge biodiversity and animals in the Albertine Graben. Because of this bio-diversity Blomeyer advised that the country should prepare for change beyond the oil age. “The difficult task is reconciling the short term needs of government development versus the long term protection of the environment”, he noted. The Executive Director of National Environment Management Authority, Dr.Tom Okurut, said an oil spill contingency response strategy draft is ready. The strategy lays the first responsibility in case of any natural resource disasters in the hands of the oil firms. The challenge is to minimize the the impact of oil exploration Okurut said.case of any natural resource disasters in the hands of the oil firms. The challenge is to minimize the the impact of oil exploration Okurut said.

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