The National Environment Management authority needs to be empowered to deal with the challenges associated with Oil and Gas industry.

Energy and Minerals Minister, Eng. Irene Muloni

This concern was raised by the minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Irene Muloni while responding to the concerns of the members of parliament on the capacity of the authority to asses the environment impact for any activity carried out in the rift valley basin.

Muloni said that oil and gas is still a new industry in the country which NEMA had not planned for initially and therefore the need for support from parliament to empower the authority.

Muloni’s call was emphasized by the minister of tourism Ephraim Kamuntu who says that NEMA needs to be strengthened in terms of man power and finance.

The two ministers however said that the authority currently uses other prequalified companies to asses the environment and therefore no project is being carried out without its environmental impact assessment report.