Pakissan.com; Rural and wildlife conservation

Pakistan has a huge potential for energy generation, which will be an essential component to Pakistan's future development, as existing fields like Sui are declining and the other fields will be producing less after a few years.

supply from current fields, Pakistan will not be able to meet its demands for gas. Hence, Pakistan needs to develop its unexplored hydrocarbon resources to solve
the oncoming energy crisis.

Harmonizing gas development with environment

However, development of these resources does not come easily - it requires huge investments. Moreover, without prior planning, oil and gas exploration can also
have environmental costs. In such situations, a balance has to be struck between the economic well being of the country and on the other hand, possible effects of

The solution lies neither in limiting our development activities nor in turning a blind eye towards the environmental and social impacts of energy exploration.Companies that have begun to conduct their operations Exploration Pakistan Limited's (PEPL) drilling activity in Dureji, Balochistan is a case in point.

Premier sets the example
PEPL has been working in Pakistan for 12 years. With time and experience, it has come to realize the social and environmental responsibilities that arise with its operations. These responsibilities were never more felt that when Premier was awarded its Dumbar concession in 1997.

This area includes the Dureji Game Reserve, which was given protected area status in 1972 because of a number of resident wildlife species that required protection from hunters and anthropogenic influences to the habitat. Examples are the threatened Sindh ibex, chinkara gazelle and the almost extinct urial. This meant that any operation in this area required particular sensitivity and care towards the environment In 2000, Premier decided to drill an Reserve. Prior to its drilling. Premier conducted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the project to assess any potential impact drilling may have on the surrounding area and wildlife.

Environmental concern met
One of the concerns raised by the EIA was the possible displacement of 50 urials from the southern end of Hamalig hill within the project area. This concern from a severe drought and the urial population was facing competition for grazing areas with local livestock, resulting in a shortage of food, thereby causing poor health and high mortality amongst the urial.

Drought conditions mitigated
The study conducted by an independent consultant showed that despite the rangeland's limited carrying capacity of 3,000 small grazing animals, the grazing pressure on the rangeland was equivalent to 4,000 goats. With the drought in full force, it seemed unlikely that the situation would improve.

To compound the situation, the drought and the competition for grazing reduced the quality' and quantity of food available to the goats, thus resulting in weight loss and ultimately death. In desperation, the local community was forced to sell goats at low rates. Furthermore, when the locals were interviewed, around 80 per cent of them reported that the}' had to supplement their animals' diets with food bought from the market, causing an additional financial burden on the communities already living in extreme poverty.

To reduce the problem, the EIA suggested that a range management plan should be implemented to reduce livestock grazing pressure on Hamalig hill, thereby increasing pasturage for urials.

Local participation
Recognizing that the real stake holders of the program were in fact the people of the project area. Premier held consultations with the local populations to ensure that they confirmed their co-operation and agreed to the plan. Subsequent to discussion, it was decided that Premier would reduce the grazing pressure on the rangeland by providing livestock a daily supply of fodder, thereby allowing sufficient grazing land for the urials.

Range land improved
The advantages of this range management plan were many. This small initiative improved the health of the goats, resulting in their improved market value a boost to the local economy. Secondly, by supplying the goats with fodder, and thereby reserving more area on the rangeland for the urial, the health of the urial improved and also lowered the mortality rate of the young.

According to a study by independent consultants, the company also left the rangeland in a better condition than it was before and contributed to the community's better understanding of livestock nutrition.

The program is also a good example of community mobilization. Representatives from villages were responsible for the implementation of the plan in their local area. Two monitors were employed from the local population by Premier who ensured that people were feeding the correct number of animals.

The short-term range management program lasted for a period of six months, and by the end of the program despite the drought, not only did Premier succeed in reducing the competition for grazing, but also improved the condition of the local livestock.

Gas exploration and rural development to go hand in hand
As a conscientious oil and gas company, Premier ensured that its drilling would have minimum negative impact on the environment. By undertaking Environmental Impact Assessments and similar studies, companies can go beyond their scope of work and also invest their efforts in responsibly protecting and developing the local social and environmental structures. This is important especially since many of the operations take place in remote areas away from mainstream development.

In this case. Premier not only implemented effective measures to reduce impact, but also ensured that its operations for resource development in Pakistan would positively influence the wildlife and the people of the area.

Premier Exploration Pakistan is a subsidiary of Premier-Kufpec Pakistan B. V. The author is the Corporate Affairs Assistant at Premier-Kufpec Pakistan B. V.

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