IOGP joins the experts in Abidjan
The Abidjan Convention, which provides an overarching legal framework for all marine-related programmes (including upstream operations) in West, Central and Southern Africa, held an experts’ workshop in Cote d’Ivoire’s capital.
The objective was to define a post-signature roadmap for the Convention’s additional protocols to be adopted including the Offshore Oil and Gas Protocol.
IOGP Environment Director Wendy Brown was there, along with Clement Chazot of the Global Initiative for West, Central and Southern Africa (GI-WACAF), which the upstream industry funds. Other workshop participants included eight Abidjan contracting parties and NGOs.
“I went well-equipped with input from Member Companies’ African affiliates” Wendy says. That meant we were prepared for a meeting that focused on four new protocols and a new policy covering:
- Integrated coastal zone management
- Sustainable mangrove management
- Pollution from land-based sources and activities
- Environmental norms and standards related to offshore oil and gas activities
- Integrated ocean management strategy
The main objective of the workshop was to develop for each new protocol an implementation action plan. The workshop also recognized the need to analyse the necessary synergies with other protocols at both national and sub-regional levels, Wendy says.
“It was extremely valuable that IOGP was represented there to provide the upstream industry’s views on the Abidjan Convention proposals. I think our presence was well appreciated, and it will ensure that we are fully in the loop as we move into the implementation phase.
It is clear that the ambition of this region is high, and we want to help them implement these new protocols in an effective but realistic way,” Wendy says.
For more details, Members can review the documents uploaded to the Environment Regional Seas Subcommittee page on the IOGP Extranet.
