Potential Impacts of Natural Gas Pipeline Construction and Operation on Land/Soil Quality in South Eastern Nigeria

The quest to make available, cheaper, cleaner, more efficient and more reliable sources of energy and feedstock for industrial and domestic uses,in Aba Owerrinta axis of Abia State, Southeastern Nigeria in a developmental process cannot be over emphasized. This has necessitated the construction and installation of a 12” diameter natural gas pipeline with a l00 m wide right of way for a distance of 26 km by Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG). Though natural gas is a more environmental friendly fuel than other fossil fuels, the construction, installation and operation of the pipeline will invariably have impacts on the land/soil environment. Hence,the importance of an assessment of the envisaged impacts of the various stages of the gas project on the land/soil quality among other factors, against which the efficiency of the environmental management plan can be measured in the future. The identified soil types were classified as Inceptisols and Ultisols (Soil Taxonomy) and Fluvisols and Nitosols (WRB). The major potential impacts identified include loss of topsoil,modification of overland drainage pattern, accelerated erosion, land contamination and quality impairment through increased industrial activities and discharge of waste water and gaseous effluents and alteration in land use pattern. Mitigation measures suggested include, limiting of land clearing to required area, re-vegetation and proper disposal of wastes, among others.