Gas flaring is one of the world's worst climate 'crimes' due to the massive amounts of CO2 emissions
Oil companies in the oil-rich Niger Delta in Nigeria's south destroy gas that could be used as a source of energy. It's estimated that gas worth about a billion US dollars is burned every year. The illegal practice hurts the environment.
Gas flaring in the Niger Delta has been illegal since 2005 when Nigeria's Supreme Court banned the practice. However, fines are too low and only handed out in very few instances. That's why oil companies don't care about the law. Instead, they would budget for these rare incidents when they have to pay a small nominal fee.
It's a scandal, says Bolaji Babatunde, an internationally renowned biochemist who teaches at the University of Port Harcourt, the biggest city in the Niger Delta. He's been doing extensive research on the effects of oil drilling in the region. The substances produced when gas is burned have proven to be toxic to plants, animals, and humans in close proximity, he added.
"The gas that is being flared could simply be converted and made available for the people to use," he told DW. "Instead of using kerosene or even firewood, which has a direct impact on saving our forests, the majority of the people where the gas is flared are using firewood for cooking as their source of energy." That could help ease the massive shortage of electricity in the country, he said. "Less than a quarter of the gas is being used to produce energy."
Oil companies in the oil-rich Niger Delta in Nigeria's south destroy gas that could be used as a source of energy. It's estimated that gas worth about a billion US dollars is burned every year. The illegal practice hurts the environment.
Gas flaring in the Niger Delta has been illegal since 2005 when Nigeria's Supreme Court banned the practice. However, fines are too low and only handed out in very few instances. That's why oil companies don't care about the law. Instead, they would budget for these rare incidents when they have to pay a small nominal fee.
It's a scandal, says Bolaji Babatunde, an internationally renowned biochemist who teaches at the University of Port Harcourt, the biggest city in the Niger Delta. He's been doing extensive research on the effects of oil drilling in the region. The substances produced when gas is burned have proven to be toxic to plants, animals, and humans in close proximity, he added.
"The gas that is being flared could simply be converted and made available for the people to use," he told DW. "Instead of using kerosene or even firewood, which has a direct impact on saving our forests, the majority of the people where the gas is flared are using firewood for cooking as their source of energy." That could help ease the massive shortage of electricity in the country, he said. "Less than a quarter of the gas is being used to produce energy."
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