The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will give more emphasis on the preservation of the environment in its business operations for sustainable profitability.

The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru stated this while delivering the keynote address at the 2016 Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) week with the theme: “HSE Best Practice – A Requirement for Business Profitability and Sustainability,” at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.

Dr.. Baru noted that the NNPC would continue to execute and encourage policies and programmes that enhance health, safety and preservation of the environment in alignment with the conventions of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Dr. Baru stated: “Business sustainability requires processes in which we manage our financial, social and environmental risks, obligations and opportunities to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future generation. This will ultimately save lives, ensure sustainable development while supporting economic growth and happiness for the future generation.”

According to him, the NNPC goal is to attain the highest standards of excellence to maintain and continuously improve comprehensive HSE management system which is a systematic and fully documented approach to managing health, safety and environment.

He reiterated that the NNPC has made Health, Safety and environment (HSE) a core component of every aspect of its business and would help to raise awareness on safety of the environment.

Speaking in a similar vein, the Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services, Mr. Isa Inuwa, said the HSE week is a yearly corporate-wide activity which show cases achievements recorded in HSE with a view to creating awareness to strengthen the measures already in place to reposition NNPC in the pursuit of transforming into a world class oil and gas company.

According to him, the NNPC must strive to identify and minimize, if not eliminate, unsafe acts or conditions, carry out hazard surveillance, and comply with set HSE rules and regulations.