Nigeria flared approximately 148.7 million standard cubic feet (mscuf) of gas in the first half of 2024, valued at about $359.85 million.
This is seven per cent higher than the 138.3mscuf of gas flared in the first half of 2023.
This is as stakeholders called for urgent action to address gas flaring and enhance gas commercialisation to alleviate power shortages and improve infrastructure.
Minister of state for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, who made the figures known, expressed concern that despite concerted efforts, the country is yet to record much progress in reducing gas flaring.
Salako stated this at the Third National Extractive Dialogue (NED) on Gas Flare Reduction 2024, held in Abuja on Wednesday.
The 2024 NED is jointly organised by Spaces for Change, the Ford Foundation, and the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and is themed “Gas Flare Reduction: Catalyst for Accelerating Nigeria’s Path To Net-Zero Emissions and Sustainable Development.”
The minister reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to ending gas flaring to foster a conducive environment.
He pointed out the tangible progress made under Nigeria’s Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, launched in 2016 to attract investment in gas capture technologies.
Salako however, noted that despite advancements, Nigeria still faces formidable obstacles in achieving its gas flaring reduction targets by 2030.
He listed Infrastructure deficits, regulatory shortcomings, and technology gaps as factors that have continued to impede progress.
The minister stressed the need for enhanced collaboration with international partners and increased investment in renewable energy solutions.
He said: “Historically, gas flaring has been a common practice in the Nigerian oil and gas industry due to the absence of infrastructure. As a result, the gas has been continuously burned in oil fields leading to the release of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.
He added that, “Despite regulatory efforts, enforcement regulations have been challenging and many operators still flare gas due to insufficient penalties and the high cost of gas capture and utilisation technologies.
Nigeria’s policy on gas flaring has however evolved significantly over the years.
“As of today, Nigeria remains one of the top 10 countries in the world in terms of gas flaring volumes. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), reported that approximately 324 billion cubic feet of gas was flared in 2023 translating to significant economic losses and environmental damages including damage to the health of the people. This volume, though, represents a slight decrease from previous years, figures derived from the National Gas Flare Tracker shows that Nigeria has flared 148.7 million static cubic feet of gas in the first six months of 2024 which is about seven per cent above the same level above the for the same period in 2023,”
Also speaking, the executive director, Space for Change, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri pointed out that gas flaring has far-reaching socio-economic and environmental impacts, particularly on host communities.
“It exacerbates global warming, leads to economic losses, and squanders potential power generation resources.
Ibezim-Ohaeri, said since Nigeria has targeted 2060 as its year of energy transition, owing to climate change and also targeting to stop gas flaring, collaborative actions have become expedient.
However, it is within our power to change this narrative. By reducing gas flaring, we can significantly cut our carbon emissions, unlock economic value, and foster sustainable development that benefits all Nigerians”, she added.
Speaking for host communities in the Niger Delta region, HRH King Bubawaye Dakolo of Bayelsa State said operators and the government must compensate oil host communities for decades of gas flares that have left significant impact on the people.
The monarch stated that gas flaring, which poses a significant threat to the lives of people, has not been reduced in the Niger Delta communities.
Stressing the menace has not abated, he said: “So most of us have not seen any sign of reduction in gas flaring so far. Let me let everyone here know that where I live, the most polluting gas flare in the world is just a kilometre.
“It was burning when I left the Ikiteoma kingdom on Monday. And it is still burning now. For all the flares that I have known, well over 150 of them before PIA they are all still burning out as we speak.”
The monarch who described it as a misconception to say gas flaring has reduced, said the menace is as persistent as it was before the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
He said since the law gives the operators the option of paying fines for gas flares, they lean on the leverage to perpetuate the crime against the host communities.
He described the PIA as a dangerous document from the perspective of the communities.
According to him, it is a misconception to say gas flare will be taken to the market because it is impossible as flared gas means burnt gas.
Dakolo said: “Inside just as PIA may imply is a Petroleum Industry Act. It is an Act that is meant for the operators of the industry leaving us completely out.
“And so, it is more like a dangerous document so far from the communities’ point of view. Why am I saying so?
“It says very nicely in section 104 that gas should not be flared, however, it goes down to say if you flare gas, you could flare as much as you want to flare and pay your so-called penalty of $2 for 1000 standard cubic feet of gas flared or 50 cents of the same volume flared if you are a small operator the way royalties are paid.”
He revealed how Shell Petroleum Development Company (SDPC) notified him of its plan to flare gas in his community in August 2014.
The monarch, who noted he would not prevent the oil giant since the PIA allowed the gas flare to the peril of the lives of the communities, threatened to video the gas flare.
According to him, gas flare still takes place under the nose of the communities unchecked.
He said, “And then last week on Thursday, Shell came to discuss with me that they are planning another flaring because they want to test well less than 50 meters from people’s houses, about 150 meters from my palace.
“And they say they came to solicit my support and I said what do you mean? Support! How can you get support from me? If you leave it to me, you won’t even do it. “However, I can’t tell you not to flare because the federal Government wants all the money even at the cost of our blood.
Meanwhile, NEITI executive secretary, Drm Orji Ogbonnaya Orji tasked the country with zero gas flare in 2025.
He said with the United Nations projection of Nigeria’s population to rise to over 260 million in 2030 and over 400 million by 2050, which is just ten years away from the country’s net zero target of 2060, NEITI predicts an upsurge in Nigeria’s energy demand that may surpass 47 per cent projected global increase by the same period in 2050.
Orji, who was represented by Dieter Bassi, said the theme of this Dialogue is therefore of huge interest to NEITI as an agency because the right time to table the issue of gas flaring as a national agenda for public discussion is now.
He said: “At a time when Nigeria is grappling with huge energy gaps, the global transition to renewable energy creates an even greater need for this timely intervention.
“NEITI highly commends the Spaces for Change for bringing this issue to the front burner.
“NEITI recognises that Nigeria needs to position itself as the technology frontier to take full advantage of the opportunities that lie in the energy transition journey especially as relates to gas production, utilisation, gas flaring and carbon emission reduction.
“The opportunities are in the areas of investments in technology and innovation that will ensure a Just Transition to net zero emission by 2060.”
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