Adnoc vows to protect environment

Adnoc vows to protect environment
posted on 31/12/2007

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has pledged to protect the environment by putting in place internal standards that push the company to decrease its impact on the earth. The government-controlled company, one of the largest oil producers in the world, made the commitment at the Arab Corporate Environmental Responsibility Summit organised by the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency and other local and international organisations.

"Adnoc and its group of companies are fully committed to environmental protection through a set of laws, corporate policies and codes of conduct,” said Ali Rashid Al Jarwan, general manager, ADMA-OPCO. He said leadership, commitment, policies, laws, management systems and corporate social responsibility form a strong bond that helps the group to shoulder its environmental responsibility. "We use the latest environmental management systems to ensure continuous improvement,” he said, adding that one of the major achievements of the group is the success made towards achieving a zero-flaring goal through upgrading facilities.

Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency has urged all businesses in the emirate to live up to their promises concerning the environment and to take preventative measures to protect the earth. The agency said the Arab Environment Ministers Council has approved last month's Abu Dhabi Declaration on Corporate Responsibility and Cleaner Production, which called for the private sector to support environmental protection efforts.

More than 120 chief executives, representing major business sectors from the Arab world, attended the summit and made commitments to take responsibility for the environmental costs associated with their businesses and to work towards green alternatives. "The protection of the environment is the responsibility of all business sectors. They have to contribute to environmental protection efforts and need to invest towards this,” Majid Al Mansouri, secretary-general of the Environment Agency, told Emirates Business.

In order to achieve this goal, he said, the agency is working with different sectors to implement an Environment, Health and Safety policy and the Environment, Health and Safety Management System at the emirate level so that sustainable development is integrated into every step of corporate strategies. "Financial achievement should not be the only goal of companies. Their corporate responsibilities should include environmental protection and social development. The environment, health and safety management must be considered in any new project,” Al Mansouri said. (Emirates Business 24|7)