By Bida Elly David
President Salva Kiir has directed the Minister of Petroleum to conduct urgent environmental studies to protect communities in oil-producing areas from adverse impact of oil-induced pollution.
Communities in the oil-producing states have repeatedly complained about a high prevalence of petroleum pollution that causes diseases and reproductive health issues.
Several mothers in the oil-producing areas have of recent had birth defects, infertility, stillbirth, and miscarriages, among others.
According to the Petroleum Act of 2012, oil production activities should be done in a way that ensures a high level of health and safety but producing companies have partially considered civil lives as a priority.
In President Kiir’s statement read during the opening of South Sudan Oil and Power Conference and Exhibition, the inhabitants at the oil-producing sites have become victims of environmental pollution.
Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin read the President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s message at the opening of the conference.
According to the president, the call for investment must factor into consideration the challenge that comes with oil production such as pollution.
“The minister of petroleum must prioritize environmental studies with the goal of protecting communities at the producing sites,’’ Kiir said.
President Kiir stated that the research exercise should not be limited to only old oil-producing sites but also the newly established ones to enable uniform mitigation of the impact.
The president has also made a call for oil investing companies to avoid unnecessary dumping of oil remnant but consider human lives as paramount.
“Balancing economic benefits of oil production with protecting our people and their livelihoods is encouraging. I call on investors to be our ambassadors to support the minister of petroleum through investment,’’ Kiir said.
He demonstrated his government’s will to ensure working jointly with the oil investors to boost economic development in the Country.
Despite the in-communal violence and other insecurities across the Country, President Kiir promised the safety of investors in the Country.
According to the president, so far, the implementation of the agreement demands a demonstration of peace and stability in of the Country.
“This milestone has led into enabling and peaceful environment despite the exceptions, or the inter-communal fighting being managed by communities,’’ he added.