Govt closely monitoring Chevron's seismic survey in Lawachhara
Sunday, 23 March 2008
FE Report
The government is closely monitoring the seismic survey being conducted by US company Chevron in Lawachhara national forest at Moulvibazar in Sylhet for oil and gas exploration, official sources said.
"Two independent bodies constituted by the Department of Environment and Department of Forest are keeping their eyes on the 3D surveys being done by Chevron so that the environment is not affected," energy secretary Mohammad Mohsin told the FE Saturday.
He said the survey for oil and gas discovery is necessary to ensure the country's future energy security as the current gas reserves are depleting fast due to mounting demand for fuel by industries and power plants.
"Our objective is to accelerate the pace of development as well as lessen the impact on environment," Mohsin said.
Chevron, which started the seismic survey in Lawachhara under gas block 14 early this month, has so far completed 40 per cent and 20 per cent of its works earmarked under first phase and second phase respectively.
The survey will cover around 152 square kilometers area that includes 20 per cent of the Lauachara national forest near the Moulvibazar gas field, a senior Chevron official said.
"There is no report on any harmful impact on environment from the survey in Lawachhara forest until now," said Petrobangla Director (PSC) Muktadir Ali.
He said the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report regarding the three-dimensional (3D) seismic survey in Lawachhara was properly approved after scrutinising it for about four months by the Department of Environment, Department of Forest, Ministry of Law and Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD).
Chevron Bangladesh president Steve Wilson earlier said: "Energy is critically important for Bangladesh. But the factor of environment is equally important."
He said the company is using the latest survey techniques that will leave no significant impact on the environment.
Chevron is strictly adhering to all legal and environmental compliances while implementing the survey programme, he added.
The government is closely monitoring the seismic survey being conducted by US company Chevron in Lawachhara national forest at Moulvibazar in Sylhet for oil and gas exploration, official sources said.
"Two independent bodies constituted by the Department of Environment and Department of Forest are keeping their eyes on the 3D surveys being done by Chevron so that the environment is not affected," energy secretary Mohammad Mohsin told the FE Saturday.
He said the survey for oil and gas discovery is necessary to ensure the country's future energy security as the current gas reserves are depleting fast due to mounting demand for fuel by industries and power plants.
"Our objective is to accelerate the pace of development as well as lessen the impact on environment," Mohsin said.
Chevron, which started the seismic survey in Lawachhara under gas block 14 early this month, has so far completed 40 per cent and 20 per cent of its works earmarked under first phase and second phase respectively.
The survey will cover around 152 square kilometers area that includes 20 per cent of the Lauachara national forest near the Moulvibazar gas field, a senior Chevron official said.
"There is no report on any harmful impact on environment from the survey in Lawachhara forest until now," said Petrobangla Director (PSC) Muktadir Ali.
He said the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report regarding the three-dimensional (3D) seismic survey in Lawachhara was properly approved after scrutinising it for about four months by the Department of Environment, Department of Forest, Ministry of Law and Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD).
Chevron Bangladesh president Steve Wilson earlier said: "Energy is critically important for Bangladesh. But the factor of environment is equally important."
He said the company is using the latest survey techniques that will leave no significant impact on the environment.
Chevron is strictly adhering to all legal and environmental compliances while implementing the survey programme, he added.