OBEN GAS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Chapter Four Associated and Potential Environmental I
• Increase in cost of living/inflation
The increase in population caused by influx of people could overstretch available food
supplies, healthcare and other social facilities such as housing, water and power supply.
The shortage of these goods and services could result in increase in cost of living and
attendant inflation. This impact was direct, negative, short term, local and reversible. It
was rated as moderate.
• Nuisance (noise, emissions, vibration) from heavy machinery
The movement of heavy equipment required for this project could result in nuisance in
form of noise, emission and vibration, which might impair air quality, hearing and health.
Nuisance of this nature could lead to third party agitation and impinge on company
reputation. This impact was described as direct, negative, short-term, local and reversible
and rated as moderate.
• Increased potential for road traffic accidents
The mobilization phase could lead to increased road traffic due to supplies and personnel
movement. This could result in the likelihood of increased road traffic accidents. This
impact is direct, negative, short term, local and reversible. It was rated as moderate.
4.6 Construction/Drilling/Flowline Phases
• Pressure on available water for domestic use and other water related activities
Water supply could be required for human consumption and construction activities. The
large volume of water required during construction could lead to pressure on available
water for domestic and other water related activities. The pressure could lead to scarcity of
water, which could induce unhygienic habits with its consequent effects on morbidity and
mortality rate, and might lead to third party agitation. This impact was described as direct,
negative, short term, local and reversible, with a rating of moderate.
• Opportunities for contracting and employment
Supply of materials for the execution of the various activities could lead to increased
opportunities for contracting, supplies and employment. This could lead to enhanced level
of income and financial flow thereby contributing to poverty alleviation. Contracting and
related activities could affect traditional occupations such as farming, fishing and hunting.
Inequity of opportunities could lead to third party agitation. This impact was direct, shortterm
and widespread. It was rated positive.
• Pressure on existing infrastructure
The workers required for construction activities could lead to increase in overall
population of the communities. Population increase due to the workers and other migrants
could lead to overcrowding and its consequent pressure on existing social amenities. The
impact was described as direct, negative, short-term, local and reversible and was rated
as moderate.
• Destruction of vegetation (medicinal, economic and food)
Clearing of vegetation for the various project activities could result in the destruction of
indigenous plant communities in the proposed project area. It could lead to the loss of
economic, medicinal and food crops. This impact was direct, negative, long term, local and
irreversible. The impact rating was moderate.
• Loss of habitat for wildlife
Site clearing could also result in the destruction of the habitat for wildlife. The type of
wildlife in the project area as shown in Chapter 3. Destruction and fragmentation of their
habitat could disperse wildlife into surrounding area, thereby exposing them to danger of
4-55