Gas Flaring in Nigeria



Abstract

This research paper represents the concept about gas flaring in Nigeria context. This paper also discusses the environment impact due to gas flaring in Nigeria and government policies about gas flaring and environment protection. This paper also focuses on the strategic approaches to deal with gas flaring.

Introduction1

Discussion2

Environmental impact3

The historical development of legislation and regulatory practices to combat gas flaring8

Criticism and the modification of the ban9

Tax incentives10

The institutional structure10

Possible Solutions15

Gas processing and subsequent generation16

Conclusion16

References17

Gas Flaring in Nigeria

Introduction

Natural gas is produced in association with oil and burned in a flare on a scale in Nigeria and other countries. It is estimated that even 3.5 billion m³ of gas is burned, which represents 70% of the gas produced from oil. Statistical data associated with this problem are still insufficient, and the losses incurred by Nigeria are estimated at $ 2.5 billion per year. Mining companies operating in the country prefer to extract natural gas from the fields in which the separation of gas from oil is economically less viable. Flaring of natural gas has been banned in Nigeria. Yet it burn oil producer with disastrous consequences. Petrochemical Industry in Nigeria is the largest branch of the economy of Nigeria and Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa.

What happens when gas is flared? Oil production is always associated with gas. This gas could absorb and use, but the oil producers are interested in the gas which is limited. Therefore; it is simply flared off on the spot. It is located directly at the well and just flared into the atmosphere. The gas flaring is not only destroying the environment, but it also makes millions of people sick. Each year, about 400 million tons of greenhouse gases from the gas flares are released, which is comparable to the emission, discharge, the 500 million cars in a year, according to a World Bank study. In 2010, according to the World Bank 130 billion cubic meters of natural gas were flared. This huge amount is roughly equivalent to 30 percent of the gas consumed in the European Union.

Discussion

Gas flaring in Nigeria Context

The UNO and human rights organizations discourage such practices, as they contribute to climate change. Combustion of the gas released to the atmosphere release large amounts of methane, which is a gas with a very high global warming potential. When in developed countries almost abandoned gas combustion is flared while in Nigeria, it is increased proportionately with the increase in production. Flaring of gas is also a great loss to the national interest because it depletes the resources of raw materials which are not bringing profits, since the gas burned by the mining companies is not subjected to a fee.

In Nigeria, we have no idea of the destructive effects of the gas flaring. We just think of a few chimneys on the horizon from which it smokes or stretch a tongue of fire in the sky. This notion is not ...