Oil Spill Response

The Hazira Port Oil Spill Response Plan

The Oil Spill response plan has been prepared as per the directives of the Indian Coast Guard and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board.

In spite of ‘almost zero leak design’ of the terminal facilities and the fact that any spilled LNG will not pollute the marine environment there could be some discharges of fuel oil into the port either from the tugboats operating in the port or from the LNG carrier. In the event of such an occurrence a speedy and appropriate response action is required from the Port Authority with port owned and operated equipment to contain the spill and minimize the environmental damage (Tier-I Response). Secondly the Hazira Port will have to be capable to assist the neighboring Port of Magdalla in case of a significant oil spill in its waters (Magdalla Tier-II Response), thirdly the Hazira Port will have to assist the Indian Coast Guard, when instructed to do so, in case of a major oil spill threatening the Indian Coastline as outlined in the Indian National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (Tier-III Response) and fourthly the Shell Group has organized it’s oil spill response capability in regional Oil Spill Team Resource Networks. For the Middle East and India the network is called OSTRIMESA. Any Shell Business Unit in the region, requiring support to respond to a significant oil-spill incident can request trained manpower assistance from other Shell Business Units in the area. (STASCO-ordinated Group Response)

The Hazira Port Oil Spill Response Plan identifies our spill response organizational structure, responsibilities, communications and procedures to respond to oil spill emergencies.

Objective

The objectives of the Oil Spill Response Plan are as follows:

• Ensure the safety of the personnel in the event of an oil spill
• Minimize the environmental impact of an oil spill
• Protect the shareholders assets
• Minimizing business disruption
• Minimizing risk of damage to the Group’s reputation
• Minimizing harm to the people

The plan is intended to assist in dealing with an accidental discharge of oil. Its primary purpose is to set in motion the necessary actions to stop or minimize the discharge and to mitigate its effects.

The plan guides the HPPL Management, Port Authority, Harbour Master and his Duty Staff through the decisions, which will be required in an incident response. The tables, figures and checklists provide a visible form of information, thus reducing the chance of oversight or error during the early stages of dealing with an emergency situation.

Oil Spill Response Policy

Prevention of accidental spillage is the HPPL’s first priority. All the facilities are designed, installed and operated to minimize possibility of oil spill. Facilities and resources supplied by third parties are also required to meet international pollution prevention design and operation standards.

HPPL shares the community concern for the protection of the natural environment from oil spills. The company is committed to integrate into its plans and operations and to identify oil spill risks.

To achieve this HPPL will,

• Respond immediately to any incident with the objective of protecting human life and to minimize environmental impacts
• Work and consult with appropriate with appropriate government bodies, and the local community to address any issues relating to oil spills in a timely manner
• Provide adequate training and information to enable employees and contractors to adopt environmentally responsible work practices, to be aware of the responsibilities in the prevention and clean up of oil spills
• Develop emergency plans and procedure so that incidents (accidental releases) can be responded to in a timely manner
• Develop and maintain management systems to identify, control and monitor risks and compliance with government regulations and industry guidelines
• Where third party interests are involved, such as products and or chartered vessels, the company will assess the situation and take timely and appropriate action

Each employee is responsible for the implementation of this policy in association with their specific duties, this includes contractors and their employees.