Economy or Environment? The Peril of Unregulated Technology - The Nigerian Gas Flaring Story

The above picture was taken by one of my research students who was working on th effect of oil spill on the soil parameters in one of the oil communitied in Eket, Southern Nigeria. It is actually a shot of natural gas flared which has tremendous effect on the environment.

Nigeria, the giant of Africa, has been exporting oil for more than 60 years, and the sector accounts for more than half of the government's revenue. Crude oil has seemingly become the only natural resource that earns the focus of everyone. Despite the damages done to the environment following the exploitation of oil, the purported money it brings in makes relevant persons who would have advocated in favour of the people and the environment to keep their mouths shut.

The exploration and exploitation of Crude oil in Nigeria has made more harm that the economic value it adds to the country. The defects take the form of oil spillage and gas flaring. This has been attributed to the uncontrolled operations of the exploration companies, corrupt leaders and poor responses by the host communities and youths.

Over the years, Nigeria’s oil rich south, also often referred to as Niger Delta, being blessed with the resource has come at a great cost. Farmlands have damaged severely, water-bodies and the air have been polluted, fertile soil have been destroyed and he livelihood of residents have been affected.

In addition to the actions of the oil exploring firms operating in the area, the vandalism of the companies’ oil installations by militants have resulted in years of devastating environmental pollution to the land and water, but just as significantly, gas flaring continues to cause severe air pollution in the region.

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Gas flaring in particular remains prominent as major oil companies resort to the cheaper option of flaring gas a waste product instead of expensively processing the gas for domestic and other uses despite an "unenforced" fine of $3.50 for every 1,000 standard cubic feet (SCF) of gas flared.

The oil companies operating in Nigeria flare over 313 million standard cubic feet of gas annually, according to satellite data estimates from Nigeria’s environment ministry.^source The flared gas in turn results in the emission of 16.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Gas flaring can be defined as the burning off of associated gas that comes together with oil during production.^(source) Flaring is undertaken as a way to remove dangerous gasses with lower harm to the environment if operated under regulations. It is used in safely regulating pressure in chemical plants, as well as handling natural gas release in wells. Experts say flaring of gas is the easiest method producers use as they don't have to stop pumping oil.

Alternatives, such as piping the gas to a plant or on-site capture and use, are best practices which would cause less effects on the environment. Sad, that this alternative is rarely adopted here in Nigeria as it would deprive leaders of their "cut" in the exploration process.

Oil companies in Nigeria produce over 4 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day. But according to the authorities, nearly 80 per cent of the associated gas produced is utilised or redirected into the earth crust. One can imagine the amount of harm done. Sadly, this continues to flood and destroy the coastline communities in Southern Nigeria. Eket, located in the below map is one of the communities which is quite close to me and I've made a few visits there.

Implications on the Nigerian Economy

The implication of gas flaring on human health are all related to the exposure of those hazardous air pollutants emitted during incomplete combustion of gas flare. These gases are harmful to the body and therefore could lead to death as they are associated with a variety of adverse health impacts, including cancer, neurological, reproductive and developmental effects. Already, Nigeria is deficient as per providing standardized healthcare facilities to her citizens.

My concerns with ill is the fact that we are prioritizing economy over environment. The government and politicians are making huge gains o er gas flaring pampering. They are generating revenue and constantly destroying the environment. I see a comeback of this in the future. When the environment gets so depleted and then the government starts footing bills to attempt its recovery which is never possible.

I remember Ken Saro Wiwa's thoughts that the environment is man's first right! failure to protect the environment endangers man's life to possessing other social, political and economic rights. Some could say it's negligence and corruption but I'll say its ignorance.

Each passing day, technologies are being innovated and the nations of the world adopt them without apt and in-depth study of the aftermath. Sometimes, we destroy other valuables in the course of acquiring new ones.

What do you think is more important: Economy or Environment?