Seizing seismic opportunities for East Africa
Tullow Oil, a multinational oil and gas exploration company, holds explorations shares in seven blocks in the basins of Kenya and Ethiopia. The areaโs infrastructure is undeveloped, but Tullow is examining a range of oil production development scenarios for the whole area in the framework of the Lake Turkana Development Plan (LTDP). RSK was tasked with undertaking a strategic environmental assessment of the LTDP to assess the potential environmental and social implications of oil exploration and production, and various alternatives to the planโs components with a view to informing strategic, evidence-based decision making regarding the plan. Working with established partners, we aimed to
โข generate an overview of the existing environmental and socio-economic conditions across the area potentially affected by the LTDP or cumulatively with other development projects
โข gain an in-depth understanding of features and conditions in areas of the LTDPโs influence
โข identify the locations and nature of high-value receptors and resources and local hot spots in the study area where impacts of oil exploration and production development could be difficult to avoid or mitigate
โข develop and agree sustainability criteria to be applied to decision making based on International Finance Corporation/World Bank Group performance standards and national, international and Tullow standards and policies
โข apply such criteria to assessing strategic alternatives, especially concerning seismic activities and the location of drilling activities, production platforms, pipelines and other project infrastructure
โข highlight data collection constraints to inform data gaps or areas requiring specialist expertise for subsequent studies and ensure that such factors are considered during decision making.
RSK created a geodatabase to store data during the SEA and subsequent environmental and social impact assessments and to meet Tullowโs needs as required.