Petrotech 2010 goes green!

Oil exploration and production companies are counted among the bad boys when it comes to environmental damage. Perhaps to undo that image, especially in the year of BP’s mega spill, India’s biggest oil and natural gas explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has led the way in India by making a conference less damaging for the environment.

The three-day Petrotech 2010, the ninth in the series, started off today with a pledge to make the event a ‘carbon-neutral’ one. In consonance with the theme of ‘Global Energy Equilibrium’, ONGC will estimate possible greenhouse emissions attributed to the event and will then neutralise (offset) the emission by purchasing equivalent carbon credits from Voluntary Emission Reduction projects developed by a reputed organisation.

ONGC is sponsoring the event by purchasing the credits and retiring them with the collaboration of Deloitte Touche Tohmatshu India Pvt Ltd. An ONGC executive said the event will see emissions equivalent to around 2,000 tonnes of CO2, according to preliminary estimates. This will include travel and transportation of delegates, energy consumed during the exhibition and conference at Pragati Maidan and Vigyan Bhavan.

Emissions attributed to the event not only involve direct emissions in terms of energy usage but also indirect emissions like air travel of delegates, local transportation during the event, usage of papers and materials and other such sundry factors.

Preliminary estimates based on standard practice followed globally (using IPCC standards) will be verified once the event is over. Rigorous data management is key to the success of the verification and the Petrotech secretariat is assuring full support for correct date capture.

Petrotech 2010 has some other lessons for the green-conscious, too, especially with the National Capital getting ready for international conferences as winter kicks in — no conference bags, notepads and plastic badges. Instead, a trendy-looking jute badge with the dual benefit of holding a conference pass as well as a small programme booklet, adds the right touch to the conference mood.