Expert Seeks End To Gas Flaring

The National Assembly has been asked to perfect the legislative framework pegging the deadline for gas flaring in Nigeria to December 31, 2012 and stiffer penalties to be meted out to oil companies that refuse to comply.

Dr. Precious Ede of the Institute of Geosciences and Space Technology, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, made the call in a paper presented at the recently held Port Harcourt International Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition.

He said the intended amendment of the Associated Gas Re-infection Act No 99 of 1979, Cap. A25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria by the House of Representatives was the next best chance of doing away with the harmful practice of gas flaring.

He blamed the Federal Government as being culpable in tolerating gas flaring and the Nigerian national Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), for not having the will to stop flaring.

“The vulnerability of the people of the Niger Delta to the Continuous flaring of gas over the decades by the multinational oil companies reveals, yet again, the Federal Government’s lack of political will to enforce relevant laws on the issue”.

“Present thinking on ending gas flaring in Nigeria is summarised by SPDC who in a bulletin stated that the only way to end flaring at flare sites without Associated Gas Gathering Equipment would be to stop oil production. Such a decision cannot be made by oil companies without direct support from other joint venture partners, including the government-owned majority partner, NNPC”.

He pointed out the tremendous effect of gas flaring on the environment which include contributing to greenhouse gases, acid rains that pollute creeks and streams, damaging vegetations and corroding of roofs of homes.

As well as health implications like respiratory illness, asthma, blood disorders, cancer, painful breathing and chronic bronchitis, among others.

“For about fifty years gas has been flared in Nigeria, these huge dirty, smoking phumes of pollution roar constantly across the Niger Delta. They affect the health of the local communities, poison the air and light of the night sky”, he lamented.

Apart from these he said, gas flaring also has serious economic implications as the nation looses huge sum of money through that method.

He therefore called for more seriousness on the part of the Federal Government, NNPC and other oil companies at achieving zero flames in the Niger Delta insisting that only legislation would correct the weak contracts under which the joint venture relationships between NNPC and the Multinational oil companies emerged.

Calista Ezeaku