DPR, Bauchi community still disagree over siting of gas plant

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)  and Tirwun Community in Bauchi Local Government Area are still at loggerheads following the approval to site a gas plant in the community. The community had earlier protested the approval by the DPR to site the plant which it said would put their lives in danger while the DPR […]

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)  and Tirwun Community in Bauchi Local Government Area are still at loggerheads following the approval to site a gas plant in the community.

The community had earlier protested the approval by the DPR to site the plant which it said would put their lives in danger while the DPR said all due processes were taken before giving the approval.

The Comptroller of DPR Bauchi field office, Abdullahi Iliyasu, told journalists on Thursday that the community has nothing to fear as all safety requirements have been met.

He said: “One of the guidelines for siting a gas plant is that it must be about 50 meters away from residences. In the case of the Tirwun gas plant, there is a distance of 70 metres between the plant and the said mosque. It will not cause any harm or problem. Based on that, the land was approved for the building of a gas plant. There is no gas plant that has a good land size in Bauchi than that of Tirwun.

“A comprehensive environmental impact assessment was carried out to ascertain any potential danger.”

However, the community insisted that it is opposed to the siting of the plant in their area because of non-compliance with minimum environmental safety requirements for the operations of the facility.

Spokesman for the community, Dr Hayatu Mustafa, also told reporters that the law for the establishment  of gas plant is clear about the safety of the environment, and without following the law, the life of thousands of households in the area will be put in danger.

“Our position remains that the distance between the gas plant and the mosque as well as the surrounding properties does not meet standard regulatory guidelines for its establishment. As such, the plant should be relocated forthwith to a safer environment where all requirements would be met.

“We call on the government, the civil society and well-meaning citizens to come to our aid before it would be too late.”

He said the law required that the distance between a gas plant and residences must be 50 metres, however, the distance between the proposed plant and the closest building to it is just 5.6 metres while the farthest building is 49 metres.

Hayatu advised DPR to start  dismantling the gas plants in petrol stations.

He called the state governor to order the dismantling of the plant to save lives of thousands residents of the area.