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Saudi Aramco and the environment
Being one of the prominent members of the Regional Clean Sea Organization (RECSO), Saudi Aramco issued its first ever environmental plan, intended to monitor and control any possible pollution to air, groundwater, land and marine environments in 1963, when it was just called Aramco. Offshore Arabia’s Jyotsna Ravishankar has collected details from sources at the company regarding its various environment and community initiatives and programmes.
“Since the date of implementation of the first environmental programme, each company department has been required to ensure that their  facilities are designed and operated in line with this plan. Hence, the company has developed a set of environmental requirements, engineering standards and guidelines needed for implementation of this plan. These include health regulations, project environmental impact assessments, oil spill contingency plans, hazardous material disposal regulations, air quality and emissions standards, noise control standards, sanitary landfills standards and wastewater management requirements,” says a long timer of the company.
Presently, Saudi Aramco requires all new projects and facilities to comply with the air quality standards applicable in the Kingdom. It also identifies, through its air dispersion simulation programme, the impact of new projects on the air quality of the area. Based on this information, the company reduces environmental impact from the initial design stage.
“The company also has developed a programme to monitor chemical, physical, organic and non-organic materials in industrial wastewater and community wastewater. Non-solid industrial waste is sorted and disposed of, according to applicable environmental standards. Saudi Aramco has established several facilities specialized in the treatment of petroleum waste, including oily water,” said a spokesperson.
When asked about the marine front, the spokesperson said that Saudi Aramco has a long history of successful environmental protection activity. “The company actively works to prevent onshore and offshore crude and other oil product spills. It has developed regional and global plans to respond to such spills anywhere in the world. The company performs ongoing air and sea surveillance in all its offshore operating areas to ensure prompt response, if a spill does happen. The company has attached top priority to this issue, especially given the company’s prominent role as an international oil carrier through Vela International Marine Limited,” he added.
Scientific Study
The company scientists collect, on a regular basis, data which is used to assess operational impact on the environment. This is especially important along the Arabian Gulf Coast, where many facilities are located. The company has also undertaken environmental research and studies in cooperation with local specialized universities and institutes, such as the Research Institute of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. A number of major marine studies are currently under way. For example, the Bio-accumulation Monitoring Program, which focuses on clams and oysters along the Arabian Gulf shore, is a long-term study designed to assess the impact of hydrocarbons and heavy metals on marine organisms.
Other company projects involve the development of biotope maps of living organisms along the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea Coasts. Coral reefs are being monitored to evaluate natural and human impacts on these habitats characterized by their prolific productivity and sensitivity.
The company also has cooperated with the Kingdom’s National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development to re-populate the mangroves located in the vicinity of Ras Tanura that provides a favourable spawning environment for fish and shrimp.
Teaching the children to care
Saudi Aramco in the past has published two books for children – one for elementary school students, and one for high-school students. These books drive home the message that environmental protection is up to all of us, and leads to a better quality of life.
“Saudi Aramco’s award-winning animated film “Land of Khuzama” also is a valuable tool for imparting the importance of environmental protection to younger audiences,” commented the spokesperson.
Another program that the company takes pride in is the Schools Paper Recycling program that it initiated three years ago at three local schools in Eastern Province. Since then, 15 local schools were added to the program. The company provides “train-the-trainer” workshops to teachers at individual schools.
Recently, Saudi Aramco signed an agreement with the Directorates of Education for Boys and Girls in the Eastern Province to apply this program at more than 350 schools by 2005.
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