The public hearing on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Akpo Field Project was recently held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The exercise which brought together senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Rivers State government and top executives of Total, was adjudged a huge success. The EIA is one of the critical steps towards bringing the AKPO project on stream.

Chairperson of the review panel, Dr. (Mrs) C.O. Dublin-Green, a marine geologist, described Total's presentation and response to questions as "adequate".

The issue of remediation in the event of environmental degradation during and after the development of the field, was the major plank of the presentation, anchored by the Environment Manager, Mr. Eragbae Aikhoje and a representative of the Akpo Field development team, Mr. Obi Iloanusi.

It was also revealed during the session that there were no adverse comments from the various centres where there had been public display of the presentations for 21 days, prior to the concluding exercise.

There was however the suggestion by participants that in spite of the fact that the project is located offshore, indigenes of the littoral states should be given priority as beneficiaries of the company's sustainable development activities, which may arise as a result of the project.

The panellists included representative of the Minister of Environment, Dr. O. Adefemi, the Rivers State Commissioner of Environment, Mr. Chukwudi Imabo, Mr. S.B. Egungbemi, a petroleum engineer, Dr. Olumukoro, a hydro biologist and Dr. (Mrs) A.N. Eguavoen, socio-economist.

Discovered in 2000, the Akpo Field, which is deep offshore is being operated by Total Upstream Nigeria Limited (TUPNI) and holds 24% interest. Other partners are NNPC, Sapetro and Petrobras. Located on OML 130, the field development involved drilling of 22 producing wells, 20 water injection wells and two gas injection wells, which will be tied back to a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel with a storage capacity of 2 million barrels. Expected to come on stream in late 2008, it will produce at optimal levels, 225,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, of which nearly 80% is condensate.