Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of TOTAL, on Tuesday, 7-Jun-2005 marked the World Environment Day with various stakeholders in Rivers.

The day's celebrations started with simultaneous clean-up exercises at Abali Motor Park , Port Harcourt and Akabuka Market at Ahoada. This was followed with an arts competition by Fine Arts undergraduate students and a seminar on this year's World Environment Day theme, Green Cities: Plan for the Planet at the Obi Wali Integrated Cultural centre. Other topics discussed at the seminar were centred on Waste Management.

The Managing Director, Mr. Jacques Marraud des Grottes in his address stated that this year's World Environment day theme, "Green Cities: Plan for the Planet", is achievable but with the support of communities, businesses and government. Mr. Marraud des Grottes, who was represented by the General Manager, Sustainable Development, Mr. Anthony Abolarin, further stated that this year's theme brings to mind the daunting but not insurmountable challenges presented by urbanization

Mr. Marraud des Grottes reiterated the Total Group's determination in making significant contributions towards helping Nigeria achieve its objective of increasing reserves to 40 billion barrels by 2010 and doubling its oil production to 4 million barrels per day, with the recent discoveries in the deep offshore. To be able to achieve this in an atmosphere free of disruption to the environment and the human inhabitants, the Group is making health, safety and environment protection strategic priorities. He further highlighted that Total through the Amenam/Kpono project has demonstrated its commitment to achieving the objective set by the Government for a complete halt to gas flaring in 2008.

In his response, the Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili who was represented by the Commissioner of Environment, Dr. Rosemary Koinyan said the celebration of the World Environment Day is a demonstration of the commitment of EPNL to environmental sustainability.

The celebration of the annual World Environment Day has become a tradition in EPNL. Previous years' celebrations have witnessed the educating of students of primary and tertiary schools on the importance of the environment and ways in which they can contribute towards sustaining its health and growth.