The Autonomous Port of Lomé launches its action plan for the protection of the environment – ​​Togo-Presse

A launch ceremony for the Environmental Action Plan (PAE) of the Autonomous Port of Lomé (PAL) took place last Wednesday on the port platform. This initiative of the general management will allow port users to know, respect and apply the rules of environmental management for their well-being.

The Autonomous Port of Lomé (PAL) is the center of a number of industrial, commercial, transport, consignment, handling and other related services which often generate environmental problems that need to be resolved. This, in order to protect present and future generations from the related hazards. Controlling these hazards involves a synergy of actions on the part of the entire port community. Aware of these issues since 2014, this platform has embarked on a quality management process. A process that enabled it, in 2017, to obtain triple ISO certification: 9001, version 2015, for Quality of services; 45001, version 2018, for occupational health and safety; and 14001, version 2015 for the Environment. This last standard, which requires the establishment of an environmental management system, takes into account the concerns related to environmental performance as a whole, including those carried out by the State on coastal and marine protection.

In this regard, an environmental analysis made it possible to draw up an inventory of the activities and regulations to be applied. An environmental policy has also been put in place allowing continuous improvement and the prevention of pollution generated by port activities.

In addition, an organizational structure highlighting the planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources is implemented, within the framework of the application of the environmental policy of the Port of Lomé. All of these policies are contained in an Action Plan which was launched last Wednesday in Lomé.

The PAE, a dashboard for PAL’s environmental policy

On the occasion, the Director General of PAL, Rear Admiral Fogan Kodjo Adégnon, noted that after months of hard work between environmental specialists, the draft environmental action plan relating to certification standards ISO 14001, version 2015, is now implemented. According to him, this PAE aims to provide the PAL with a dashboard, in relation to its environmental and social interventions covering the year 2023. “ Like the phenomenon of coastal erosion which is of concern at the highest level, it is also a question of taking into account the environmental problem, as a whole, for better management of our port platform.. This, to urge you to appropriate this action plan which takes into account mechanisms and strategies, to bring the users of the Port of Lomé to know, to respect and to apply the rules of environmental management”, he said.

For the environmental expert of the PAL, Dr Paul Kudadze Kodjo, the PAE pursues three objectives: to ensure the health of the port public domain and ships “, but also ” sustainable management of pollution and nuisances “, while guaranteeing ” worker safety and health “. In his opinion, during the implementation of the EAP, capacity building actions for PAL staff and clients in taking into account the environmental dimension will be ensured. There will also be awareness sessions for PAL users and users on environmental issues.

In addition, controls and monitoring-evaluation will be carried out in the licensee companies.

Alex TEYI