Page 15 - Energize November 2022

NEWS

High standards of waste management

in Angola’s oil sector

A s sub-Saharan Africa’s second-largest oil producer, Angola has seen the application

of world class waste management standards in its oil and gas sector.
SRK Consulting has been involved in landfill design and environmental impact
assessments in Angola for almost 20 years, according to Bruce Engelsman, principal
engineer at SRK Consulting.
“Most of the waste from the offshore platforms comprises drill cuttings, which emanate
from many kilometres of off-shore exploration drilling,” said Engelsman. “These have to be
brought ashore, treated, and disposed of responsibly, especially to manage the hydrocarbon
content in this waste stream.”
A specialist Angolan firm treats these cuttings, extracting the oil in the cuttings using
the latest Danish thermal desorption technology before the material can be sent to landfill.
There is also hazardous waste from offshore and onshore facilities that is incinerated
and general domestic waste which is landfilled. In line with best practice and Angolan
regulations, emissions emanating from treatment are scrubbed and monitored as part of Bruce Engelsman, principal engineer at
SRK Consulting
closely managed waste disposal.
Environmental protection principles are in fact embedded in the country’s constitution,
which highlights that the State “shall promote the protection and conservation of natural residents and local businesses, and SRK
resources guiding the exploitation and use thereof for the benefit of the community as a has recently become involved in feasibility
whole”. It also gives all citizens the right to “live in a healthy and unpolluted environment” studies in this segment.
and requires the State to ”take the requisite measures to protect the environment and “Cities like Luanda have struggled
national species of flora and fauna ... and maintain ecological balance”. for many years to manage the rapid
Engelsman explained that Angola has several main service hubs to support its oil and urbanisation from the war years, when
gas sector. One is Luanda with its extensive port facilities, and the other is in the far north at people flocked to cities for safety,” he said.
Soyo – on the Congo River. “For instance, Luanda reportedly produces
“These sites boast total waste management solutions that use leading-edge some 6,000 tonnes of solid waste every
technology,” he said. “The treated residue is deposited in landfill facilities designed by SRK, day, and its infrastructure was not
ensuring that best international practice is applied regarding environmental and social developed to cope with such volumes.”
impact. The total design includes the cells themselves, groundwater monitoring, roads and The country continues to develop
other infrastructure.” its waste management capacity with
To ensure a high standard of design, SRK has in the past applied the minimum partner agencies. In 2019, the United
requirements from South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation. In recent years, Nations Environmental Programme
Angola also began developing its own regulations – especially regarding characterisation of (UNEP) – through its Chemicals and Waste
waste – so we incorporate these too. Management Programme – launched an
This developing legal landscape for waste management requires, for instance, more ambitious three-year project in Angola,
detailed investigation of leachable characteristics as well as the total concentration of focused on establishing a sustainable and
contaminant of concern in the waste. Two streams of testing are therefore conducted – integrated national structure to better
one for the leachable concentrations and another for total concentrations. Based on the manage chemicals. The strategy has
outcome of these tests, there are restrictions on what materials can enter the landfill. been coordinated by the Angola Ministry
“Our extensive experience in waste management in South Africa – in the field of tailings of Environment, through a National
dams, for example – equips us very well for these projects,” said Engelsman. “Tailings waste Chemicals Management Unit. This works
has to be classified to assess whether a lining is required under the facility – a decision with towards implementation of the project,
significant cost implications.” and ensures that Angola can continue to
The Cacuaco facility, with which SRK has been involved for 15 years, is nearing the end manage chemical and hazardous wastes
of its life. After closure, operations will move to Bengo in the Viana district, on which SRK is into the future.
currently busy with design work. Angolan municipalities face a
“We partner with a local firm of professionals to conduct the EIAs, including high-tech considerable challenge dealing with waste
work such as air emissions modelling,” he said. “The recommendations from the EIAs are from residents and local businesses
then incorporated into our designs.”
Angolan municipalities also face a considerable challenge dealing with waste from Contact SRK Consulting, www.srk.co.za

energize | November 2022 | 15