Victor Ekpenyong, CEO of Kenyon International, a prominent oil and gas servicing company in Africa, delivered a compelling call to action at the Uganda International Oil and Gas Summit, urging the industry to prioritize environmental sustainability and community engagement as Uganda prepares for its first oil production by 2025. Ekpenyong’s address centered on the urgent need to eliminate gas flaring, a practice he characterized as both an environmental hazard and an economic inefficiency. He emphasized the significant contribution of gas flaring to air pollution and climate change, advocating for the adoption of cleaner alternatives and investment in efficient technologies to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. This, he argued, is not just an environmental imperative, but also a fiscally responsible strategy.
Ekpenyong’s appeal extended beyond the immediate environmental concerns of gas flaring to encompass a broader vision of responsible resource management. Speaking on a panel focused on environmental sustainability, he urged stakeholders to consider the long-term environmental and social consequences of oil and gas projects, emphasizing the necessity of mitigating harmful practices like oil spills and habitat destruction. He advocated for aligning industry operations with global sustainability frameworks, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This alignment, he explained, requires not only minimizing the ecological impact of operations but also ensuring the meaningful integration of local communities into the development process. A key element of this approach, he stressed, is the conduction of thorough Environmental and Social Impact Assessments before embarking on large-scale projects to proactively identify and address potential risks.
Collaboration emerged as a central theme in Ekpenyong’s message. He underscored the importance of partnerships between governments, industry players, and local communities in developing innovative solutions that protect the environment while enhancing social well-being. He positioned Kenyon International as a leader in this collaborative effort, committed to integrating sustainability into its core operations and fostering opportunities for local communities to prosper. This commitment, he explained, translates into concrete actions such as ending gas flaring, investing in sustainable infrastructure, and prioritizing community engagement. These initiatives, he argued, demonstrate a tangible commitment to sustainable development, moving beyond rhetoric to practical implementation.
Ekpenyong further highlighted the crucial role of education in empowering communities to champion their own sustainability efforts. He stressed the need to equip local populations with the knowledge and tools to manage resources sustainably, creating a sense of ownership and responsibility for environmental stewardship. Furthermore, he advocated for the creation of inclusive economic opportunities linked to sustainable practices. Specifically, he suggested that local employment in areas like reforestation, clean energy, and environmental monitoring can drive economic growth while simultaneously promoting sustainable development, creating a virtuous cycle of economic and environmental progress.
The CEO’s emphasis on ending gas flaring resonates with the global movement towards cleaner energy sources and responsible resource management. Gas flaring, the burning of natural gas associated with oil extraction, releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and posing health risks to nearby communities. By advocating for the cessation of this practice, Ekpenyong aligns with international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition towards more sustainable energy practices. His call for investment in efficient technologies underscores the potential for technological innovation to drive environmental progress within the oil and gas sector.
Ekpenyong’s vision extends beyond simply mitigating environmental harm to encompass a proactive approach to community engagement and sustainable development. By emphasizing the integration of local communities into the development process, he champions a model of shared prosperity where the benefits of oil and gas production are distributed equitably and contribute to the long-term well-being of the affected populations. This approach recognizes that sustainable development requires not only environmental protection but also social and economic progress, ensuring that resource extraction contributes to the overall improvement of local livelihoods. The emphasis on education and capacity building further reinforces this commitment to empowering communities to actively participate in shaping their own sustainable futures.
