Environment and Safety Policy

Our Corporate Social Investment Environment and Safety Policies.

In conducting our business, NGC seeks to minimise risk to our employees, our customers, the public and the environment.

The Tenets of our Environment and Safety Policy

To conduct our business with the minimum of risk to employees, customers, the public and the environment, guided by socially responsible and ethical factors agreed to by our employees and stakeholders alike.
To assure the best management practices in work systems as the company continuously seeks areas of opportunity to be cost effective, to add value, and assure on time delivery while maintaining environmental and safety commitments.
To adopt the life cycle approach in the environmental performance of our plants.
To conduct risk-based analysis and to promptly identify and present solutions to areas of latent failures and loss exposures.
To minimise the generation of waste, prevent pollution and conserve our natural resources.
To promote the advancement of environmental quality, and safety wherever possible, in partnership with Government and other organizations.

Our Product

Natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel and it offers many opportunities to reduce industrial, commercial and transportation pollution.

In fact, natural gas emits 30% less CO2 than crude oil.

The widespread use of natural gas will increase our efficiency as a nation and reduce environmental impact.

What to Do In the Event of a Release

Natural gas and natural gas liquids are potentially flammable and hazardous under certain conditions. If there is a pipeline rupture or leak you may detect the scent of rotting eggs, hear a hissing sound, see burnt vegetation or notice bubbles in the water near a right of way.

Should you notice any of these signs:

Leave the area ON FOOT and move upwind.
Immediately call our 24-hour emergency hotline at 800-4427.
Keep others away from area.
Don’t use cell phones or landlines until upwind of the area.
Don’t use matches, flashlights or anything can cause sparks.
Don’t start vehicles.

Don’t smoke.
Don’t turn any lights on or off.

If you are in an enclosed area:

Open up all doors and windows to allow the gas to escape.
Cover your nose with a damp towel or napkin.

Our “Rights of Way”

Our pipeline routes are selected to have a minimal impact on the public and environment. In addition they are clearly marked and regularly patrolled by our personnel.

Pipelines are located in what is known in the industry as ‘Rights of Way’ or land corridors. We clearly mark our ‘Rights of Way’ with yellow posts. These posts are intended to reduce the possibility of pipeline damage by third parties involved in agriculture, road construction or other activities.

We regularly undertake extensive surveys and inspections of the Rights of Way, by air and on foot. This is done in order to detect and address leaks, encroachments or soil erosion.

Pipeline Standards

NGC has a long history of safe natural gas transmission and distribution. Our pipelines are installed, operated, maintained and repaired to international specifications.

Oil Spill Contingency Plan

NGC has a thorough Oil Spill Contingency Plan in place in the event that there is a hydrocarbon release. The Plan focuses on the environment and addresses methods for cleanup.

In the event of a spill in the south-east coast marine area, where most of the crude oil and natural gas production activities take place, NGC will play our role in the team co-ordinated by bpTT which has responsibility for the area.

Adherence to Legislative and Regulatory Requirements

NGC conducts Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for all projects that may harm the environment. The EIA is an analytical procedure that encompasses all aspects of the project to determine preventive and corrective actions needed to ensure minimal harm to the environment.

Waste Management

NGC has introduced a waste management procedure within its operations in accordance with the “Prevent, Reduce, Re-use, Recover and Recycle” principle. However, if these actions are not applicable, pre-treatment and disposal actions are taken.

NGC’s waste management practices also extend to contractors who are required to comply with company policy to remove waste after a given project. An example of this can be found during the ‘pigging operations’ of pipelines, in which all liquids removed from the pipelines are collected and recycled at bpTT or PETROTRIN.

Another example is that all waste oils on board the offshore platforms are collected and used for deep well injection.

Odourisation

Natural gas is colourless and odourless which makes it hard to detect in the event of a leak. As a result, we add a harmless chemical called mercaptan to some of our lines. Because the mercaptan smells like rotten eggs, it alerts those in the area to a leak. Many of our consumers are already using odourised natural gas, however, to enhance our safety measures we are on a drive to bring odourisation to many more customers.

Emergency Preparedness

We regularly test and update our emergency response plans through safety drills and table-top simulations.

We include local jurisdictions in these exercises and ensure that all employees are trained on a continuous basis.