#EndGasFlaringNG: The Unspoken Dangers of Gas Flaring In Nigeria — by @debisiokunuga
The Federal Government and oil companies in the country lost an estimated N87.16bn from January to May this year as a total of 90.9 billion standard cubic feet of natural gas was flared. Nigeria has been exporting oil for more than 60 years, and the sector accounts for more than half of the government’s income.
In the year 1984, gas flaring in Nigeria was officially banned however despite this it has been a perturbing problem over the past years.
The Niger Delta being one the world’s most oil-rich regions. Since the start of crude oil exploitation there in the 1950s, thousands of oil spills have fouled the delta, and aided fuel conflict in the region.
Gas flaring has introduced overtime toxic pollutants such as sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, with the ability to lead to environmental problems such as acid rain, as well as the generation of greenhouse gases which contribute to global climate change
This essay has proposed a way out. To propose innovative and creative solutions to be directed at stakeholders and policymakers, they must
Ex-World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said;
“Gas flaring is a visual reminder that we are was tefully sending CO2 into the atmosphere,” “We can do something about this”
GAS FLARING
Gas flaring, the method of burning-off associated gas from wells, hydrocarbon processing plants or refineries, either as a way of disposal or as a security measure to alleviate pressure. it’s one amongst the foremost challenging energy and environmental problems facing the planet today.
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers defines gas flaring because the controlled burning of fossil fuel that can’t be processed purchasable or use due to technical or economic reasons. Gas flare comes from different sources like associated gas, gas plants, well-tests and other places. it’s collected in piping headers and delivered to a flare system for safe disposal.
UNSPOKEN DANGERS OF GAS FLARING IN NIGERIA
In the year 1984, gas flaring in Nigeria was officially banned however despite this it’s been a perturbing problem over the past years since the commercial exploration of rock oil started within the country.
The Flare Gas Regulations 2018 was effected on the 5th July 2018. The Regulations which apply to any or all petroleum leases, licenses and marginal fields in Nigeria, geared toward providing a legal framework for the protection of the environment against the adverse effects of gas flaring, prevent waste of associated gas and build social and economic benefits to Nigeria from gas which might rather be flared during production operations.
However, it’s pertinent to notice that this work is much from done, February 2020 the globe Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFRP) ranked Nigeria because the 6th largest gas flaring country globally.
THE IMPERATIVES: WAY FORWARD
The work is cut out. Gas flaring has more negative impacts than the positive impacts. It pollutes the environment and also affects the health of individuals within the areas within which gas flaring is practiced. I’ve got therefore outlined several strategies which might reduce gas flaring and ultimately stop it within the future;
Reinjection for Secondary Oil Recovery
Natural gas produced in association with rock oil is used for either gas injection or gas lift which is more profitable and economical compared to gas flaring.
Source of Energy and Feedstock for Petrochemical Plants
Natural gas is most times cited as “clean burning” because it produces fewer undesirable by-products per unit energy than coal or oil. Like other fossil fuels, its combustion emits CO2, but at about half the speed of coal per heat unit of electricity generated. it’s also more energy efficient;
Develop deep, economically-viable gas markets
Gas markets need an end-use application, the foremost obvious of which is power generation. Electricity market structures must allow power companies to pass though their customers the prices of procuring market-priced gas and running gas-fired power plants.
Natural gas also offers environmental advantages against alternatives like coal. Policies to mitigate the social costs of pollution thus tend to support gas market development.
We should begin now to actualize the vision of Williams and his comrades, because the future belongs to those who prepare for it today. I close with the words of U.S President, Barrack Obama: Yes, We Can!
References
- https://www.ogel.org/article.asp?key=3806. Accessed on 31st August 2020.
- https://breakingenergy.com/2015/04/20/energy-quote-of-the-day-on-gas-flaring-we-can-do-something-about this/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CGas%20flaring%20is%20a%20visual,darkness%20for%20those%20without%20electricity.%E2%80%9D. Accessed on 31st August 2020.
- Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership 2018
- https://www.reuters.com/article/us-worldbank-emissions/world-bank-says-global-gas-flaring-hit-highest-in-over-a-decade-in-2019-idUSKCN24M21Y. Accessed on 31st August 2020.
- World Bank, “Flared Gas Utilization Strategy: Opportunities for Small-Scale Uses of Gas,” Report #5, May 2004.
- https://nairametrics.com/2020/02/18/gas-flaring-a-never-ending-dark-tunnel/ Accessed on 31st August 2020.
This article was submitted by Okunuga Adebisi Muinat, for the Gas Flaring In Nigeria Essay Competition.
