Abstract

Business organizations are directly or indirectly connected with biophysical ecosystems. Developing countries have benefited from industrialization, however side by side with these benefits they face socio-ecological problems caused by industrial firms’ operation. Industrial effluents from industrial firms’ operations have adverse impacts on human health, the natural environment, and socio-economic aspects which was assed by this study. Results from the study revealed SONARA activities as far as refining crude oil and supplying refined petroleum products like butane, kerosene, gasoline, jet fuel, gas oil and fuel oil to national market affects the coastline and surrounding coastal communities. Responses show that 13(26%) of waste discharge by SONARA are plastics, 20(40%) are effluent from industry and 17(34%) was gas discharge from SONARA.  From our findings reduction of aquatic population of fish is the most felled impact of SONARA activity 24(48%), followed by water contamination 15(30%), destruction of mangrove 9(18%)and reduction of crab population 2(4%). The study equally suggested cooperate social responsibility as a tool to mitigate the impacts of SONARA activity for sustainable development of coastal area.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background to the Study

Africa has more than 8% of the planet’s currently known oil reserves, and nearly 50% of

these are sub-Saharan (Cogels and Koppert, 2004). As hydrocarbon resources are becoming scarcer in the Middle East, Europe and North America, international oil companies are showing a growing interest and Africa’s 12% share of the world production is likely to increase (CRS, 2003). So far, the impacts of Oil production on African national economies have been mixed, with numerous instances of high local environmental and social costs and records of human rights abuse.  A recent analysis shows that, for the seven largest exporting sub-Saharan African states (Nigeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Chad, Cameroon), Oil revenues have the potential to significantly alleviate poverty and provide finances greater than are needed to achieve their Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) between 2006 and 2015 (Warner and Alexander, 2005).

The links between oil richness and poverty have been damning at national and macroeconomic levels. In the Doba oil-producing region in Chad, a recent report concludes “the local populations who have borne the brunt of the social, environmental and economic costs of the projects may be the last to see the extra benefits promised from oil revenues” (CRS, 2005).

A report by Oxfam (2001) shows that Oil dependent economies tend to display a reduced rate of economic growth that offers few benefits to the poor (Dutch disease), and a strong correlation with poor healthcare, high rates of child mortality and malnutrition and poor performance on education.

Business organizations are directly or indirectly connected with biophysical ecosystems (Starik and Kanashiro, 2013) because business organizations and societies largely depend on ecosystem resources (Dauvergne and Lister,2007; Starik and Kanashiro, 2013). Unfortunately, business firms’, especially industrial firms’, operations are greatly responsible for the depletion of ecosystem resources, resulting in large costs on both society and the economy in developing countries (ADB, 1997). Socio-ecological problems are created when business firms conflictingly interact with local ecosystems (e.g., nearby rivers, wetlands, lakes, or forests) (Driscoll and Starik, 2004).

According to (Ling and Issac, 1996) developing countries have benefited from industrialization, however side by side with these benefits they face socio-ecological problems caused by industrial firms’ operations. Furthermore, untreated industrial effluents from industrial firms’ operations have adverse impacts on human health, the natural environment, and socio-economic aspects (Hoque and Clarke, 2013). Industrial pollution is greatly responsible for environmental degradation, one of the prime concerns of society today (Murillo et al., 2011).

Dumping of various industrial waste products into water sources, and improper handling of industrial wastes, often result in polluting water sources (Paul and James, 2011). Such water pollution disturbs the balance of the ecosystem inside, resulting in the death of various animal and plant species present in the water. Pollution also reduces the potential of water as a resource for the various uses. The nature of emissions and effluents from industries are varied and industry specific. Phiri et al., (2005) noted that the careless disposal of industrial effluents and other wastes may contribute greatly to water pollution. Most of the water bodies in the areas of the developing world are the end points of effluents discharged from industries.

The national refinery company SONARA is an industrial complex crude oil refinery based on the Atlantic coast of Cameroon. The socio-ecological problems relating its business operations along the coast of Cameroon need to be incorporated into research on organizational performance and the natural environment without which a regional plan of action by government and functioning local authorities for regional development is unlikely to meet the needs of the local poor in the project area.

1.2 Problem Statement

Coastal ecosystems are among the most productive systems in the world and provide

disproportionately more services relating to human well-being than most other systems, even those covering larger total areas (Howe et al., 2010). These sensitive ecosystems are given special attention through laws that govern their protection and preservation, thus law num 96/12/05 August 1996 on environmental management in Cameroon puts special emphasis on coastal protection and marine waters, as well as the management of natural resources and conservation of biological diversity.

Many developing as well as developed coastal lines are affected as a result of industrial activities. Most incidences of the reported oil spillages have occurred in the mangrove swamp forest, which is one of the most reproductive ecosystems rich in fauna and flora (Nenibarini, 2004). The heat generated from gas flaring kills vegetation around flaring area, destroys mangrove swamps and salt marshes, suppresses the growth and flowering of some plants, induces soil degradation and diminishes agricultural productivity (UNDP, 2006).

In limbe, petrol exploitation and refining by SONARA is polluting the environment through gas discharge from ships, water contamination by hydrocarbon products, solid and liquid effluents from toxic chemical substances during repair operation (Njimonkut, 2006). In 2007, 1,424,190 tonnes of sulphur dioxide and 1,186,924 tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted to the atmosphere by SONARA (Munyele, 2008). The Recent fire explosion at SONARA as the case on Friday the 31st of May has had environmental and social impacts to the surrounding communities of Limbola, Mukundange and Batoke.

Based on this background, this study will focus on the impact of the activities of SONARA on its surrounding communities as a step to propose solution to mitigate its impact on the population and the environment.

1.3 Objectives of The Study

The overall goal of the study was to examine the impact of industrial activities within the coastline of FAKO division case study SONARA.

1.3.1 Specific Objectives

1. To identify the main industrial impact on the coastline
2. Identify and assess the impact of SONARA’S activity on the coastal area
3. To propose mitigation measures for related impact

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the main industrial impact on the coastline?
2. What is the impact of SONARA’S activity on the coastal area?
3. What mitigation measures can be proposed for the related impact?

1.5 Scope of the Study

The scope of this study is limited to the impact of industrial waste along the coast by SONARA. The research work is presented in five (5) Chapters. Chapter one (1) looks at the socio economic and environmental problems posed by SONARA in the coastal area of Fako in Limbe. Chapter two examines existing literature on impacts of industrial activities in coastal environments. Chapter three (3) describes the materials and methods employed in gathering data from the field. These included field investigation, questionnaire and face-to-face interviews. Chapter four (4) analyst the findings from the fields and chapter five (5) the key findings of the study is the conclusion and recommendations.