Environmental Resources Management (ERM), the company contracted by ExxonMobil to conduct the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Yellowtail well development, has since apologised for “mistakenly” releasing the findings of the EIA with the signature of consultant Shyam Nokta.
Nokta is the founder of Environmental Management Consultants (EMC) and is also a representative of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government since he was on the party’s list of candidates for the March 2020 general and regional elections. The appearance of his signature on the EIA document raised suspicions and questioned the independence of the study and its executing entity since it was in contravention of the Environmental Protection (EP) Act.