Air quality and noise
Our Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) articulates our commitment and approach to environment and social management activities in Papua New Guinea. There are no formal air quality or noise standards in Papua New Guinea; therefore the standards we use are derived from international standards.
Air quality
The main air emissions originate from the process and associated generation of electricity at Hides Gas Conditioning Plant (HGCP) and the LNG Plant. Electricity at operational facilities is mostly generated from natural gas, this results in lower emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulates compared with generation from other fossil fuels. Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) are minimised by the use of low-NOX burners.
Gas needs to be compressed in order for the gas to flow in a pipeline. This compression is achieved using compressors which are already in place at existing facilities at Kutubu, Gobe and Agogo. By using gas compressors already in place, gas produced at the existing facilities and re-directed to the gas pipeline will not increase air emissions at the facilities.
We have a comprehensive preventative maintenance program to maintain optimal efficiency of operations equipment. By operating compressors and generators efficiently, the overall amount of fuel gas is reduced, and thus reducing air emissions.
Annual stack testing helps ExxonMobil PNG to ensure emissions continue to be below international standards and operating efficiency maintained.
Noise
Noise during operations has been designed to meet internationally-recognised requirements.
The main source of noise generation from operations facilities are compressors, generators and flares. Where required, additional noise barriers have been implemented to further reduce noise emissions from operations facilities.
Noise monitoring is performed every six months as per our Noise Protocol. Environmental specialists are trained to use noise monitors to collect this data.