KarpowerShip Ghana Limited has downplayed complaints of pollution from its power barge in Tema saying it carefully selects fuel type for minimal environmental impact.

KarpowerShip says in a statement Friday, said it remains committed to protecting the environment it operates in, although residents of Tema Newtown and surrounding communities want company relocated.

The residents have threatened to demonstrate against the company because of its hazardous emissions.

The Chief Fisherman at Tema Newtown Fishing Habour, Nii Odamatey II told JOY BUSINESS, even though Karpower supports their community, the impact of its operations on their activities cannot be overemphasized.                                

Karpower donated fishing nets to the Fishermen Association, donated Polytanks water tanks to the schools in the town, as well as supporting the Fishmonger and Smokers Association with water for their fishing activities.

“We know the efforts they are making in the short time they started operation by supporting the fisher folks…but it doesn’t mean that we sit down when they are doing the wrong thing” he said.

He said the operation of the power barge company makes the foundation of their conference room vibrate.

After numerous complaints, Nii Odamatey II said, “nowadays the situation has improved a bit.”

However, Karpower in a statement says no such concerns have so far come up in its regular stakeholder engagements but would investigate the issues. 

Below is the statement:

Karpowership’s operations are environmentally friendly

Thursday, 8th July, 2016: News reports about complaints of alleged pollution by Karpower’s power barge have come to our attention. 

Karpowership Ghana Limited is a highly reliable organization that takes the safety of persons in the community in which it operates very seriously. We strictly adhere to environmental standards and are committed to protecting the environment we operate in. The carefully selected fuel type and the performance of our engines result in higher efficiency and minimal environmental impact.

We continuously and regularly monitor our emissions to ensure we adhere to all EPA and international standards to which we are bound.

Karpowership developed Powership Project to compensate increasing energy needs of countries from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Powerships, provide fast and low-cost energy to meet countries’ short-term requirements. By connecting to the country’s energy network, Powerships transmit generated energy to all around the country. 

Powerships are constructed and operated through environmentally and socially friendly processes. As part of its environmental and social management policy, Karpowership has its own Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) designed to meet the requirements of IFC (international Finance Corporation) also covering requirements of ISO 14001.

Karpowership employs a dedicated design and engineering team consisting of experienced sector pioneers to ensure cutting edge technological developments are incorporated in its Powerships.  In accordance with that, the suppliers who are superior in technical and environmental performance and standards are preferred among the bidders as a general practice of Karpowership. 

As part of its environmental policy, Karpowership encourages and guarantees that highest attention is paid to the allocation of all necessary resources and the use of latest technology, in order to ensure a healthy, environmentally friendly, socially acceptable and energy efficient working atmosphere. 

As part of the environmental obligation, our environmental management process has consistently engaged our stakeholder groups in the community – the fishermen (Tema New Town Fishermen Association) and the fishmongers (Tema Manhean Fishmongers and Smokers Association). The purpose of such engagements is to inform them of Karpower’s operations and to learn their concerns. The issue of smoke pollution has not come up.

As a socially responsible company committed to maintaining a harmonious relationship with the community; Karpowership will investigate the allegation as part of our grievance management mechanism.