HERDADI ORGANIZES ONE DAY WORKSHOP ON GAS FLARING

The Human & Environmental Rights Dynamic Advocacy Development Initiative is billed to hold a one-day workshop on the theme: “ENDING GAS FLARING IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION”
On April 6th, 2018

1. Dr. George Allen Fente….Chairman of the Occasion

2. Chief Noble Akenge…..Keynote Speaker
3. Dr. Horsefall Eli …Resource Person paper
4. VJ Eldred Opuama…..Rapporteur

5. Barr. Dise Ogbise…FIDA Chairperson,Bayelsa State

6. Dr John Idumange…. Moderator of Syndicate

HERDADI, OTHERS SEEK COMMITMENT TO END GAS FLARING
● ● Says Niger Delta faces threat of Annihilation

The Director-General of the Human and Environmental Rights Dynamic Advocacy Development Initiative, Herdadi, Dr John Idumange has lamented that the Niger Delta faces and imminent threat of Ecological Annihilation as a result of those infernos of hell called gas Frares. He made this assertion while discussing with some environmentalists in Port Harcourt. He urged the Federal Government to increase the derivation funds to 50% to enable oil producing communities cater for the environmental challenges threatening livelihood and their existence.

Dr. Idumange writes:

Gas flaring is the burning of natural gas that is associated with crude oil when it is pumped up
from the ground. It is an up-stream activity in the Petroleum Industry. Gas flaring is a crude way
of disposing of the associated gas with with crude oil.

Waste gases are subjected to such a process either because the gases are waste or it is difficult to
store and transport them. Non-waste gases are burnt off to protect the processing equipment
when unexpected high pressure develops within them. Gas flaring in oil rigs and wells contribute
significantly to greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.
Nigeria is the highest gas flaring country in the world, with an average of Nigeria of 17.2 billion
m3 of natural gas flares annually. This high level of gas flaring is approximately one quarter of the
current power consumption of the African continent. The economic waste and health hazards posed
by gas flaring is enormous. Worse still oil exploration companies have been professing zero gas
flaring but they have capitalized on the weak institutions and shifted the goal post for over four
decades.

The Human and Environmental Rights Dynamic Advocacy Development Initiative, HERDADI had
proposed a meeting with stakeholders early February 2018 to seek a solid commitment on a date to end gas flaring in the oil-rich Niger Delta but the meeting did not hold. HERDADI hopes the regulatory agencies will take a proactive stance on gas flaring. The oil Multinationals should also make firm commitments to gradually reduce and end the scourge of gas flaring in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.

The Nigerian government has not enforced environmental regulations effectively because of the overlapping and conflicting jurisdiction of separate governmental agencies governing petroleum and the environment as well as because of non-transparent governance mechanisms. Neither the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) nor the Department of Petroleum Resources
(DPR) has implemented anti-flaring policies for natural gas waste from oil production, nor have
they monitored the emissions to ensure compliance. The Federal Environmental Protection Agency
(FEPA) has had the authority to issue standards for water, air and land pollution and has had the
authority to make regulations for oil industry.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the Nigerian government’s main interest in the oil industry is
to maximize its monetary profits from oil production.
Oil companies find it more economically expedient to flare the natural gas and pay the insignificant fine than to re-inject the gas back into the oil wells.

Additionally, because there is an insufficient energy market especially in rural areas, oil companies
do not see an economic incentive to collect the gas. Besides, there is indigenous technology deficit
to embark on gas conversion.

The oil-producing communities have experienced severe marginalization and neglect. The
environment and human health have frequently been a secondary consideration for oil companies
and the Nigerian government. Although there may be reasons for the continuous gas flaring, there
are many strong arguments suggesting that it should be stopped because of the numerous health
challenges facing host communities.

Sadly, the supposed benefits are given significantly more weight by the government than the resulting damage to the environment and human health.

Environmental Implications

i Climate Change
Gas flaring contributes to climate change, which has serious implications for both Nigeria and the
rest of the world. The burning of fossil fuel, mainly coal, oil and gas-greenhouse gases-has led to
warming up the world and is projected to get much, much worse during the course of the 21 st
century according to the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC). This scientific body
was set up in 1988 by the UN and the World Meteorological Organization to consider climate change.

Gas flaring contributes to climate change by emission of carbon dioxide, the main
greenhouse gas. Venting of the gas without burning, a practice for which flaring seems often to be
treated as a synononym, releases methane, the second main greenhouse gas. Together and crudely,
these gases make up about 80% of global warming to date.

ii Acid Rain
Acid rains have been linked to the activities of gas flaring. Corrugated roofs in the Delta region
have been corroded by the composition of the rain that falls as a result of flaring. The primary
causes of acid rain are emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO 2) and nitrogen oxides (NO) which combine
with atmospheric moisture to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid respectively. Size and environmental philosophy in the industry have very strong positive impact on the gas-flaring-
related CO 2 emission.

Acid rain acidifies lakes and streams and damages vegetation. In addition, acid rain accelerates the
decay of building materials and paints. Prior to falling to the earth, SO 2 and NO 2 gases and their
particulate matter derivatives, sulfates and nitrates, contribute to visibility degradation and harm public health.

iii Impact on Agriculture
The flares associated with gas flaring give rise to atmospheric contaminants. These include oxides
of Nitrogen, Carbon and Sulphur (NO 2, CO 2, CO, SO

2), particulate matter, hydrocarbons and ash,
photochemical oxidants, and hydrogen sulphide . These contaminants acidify the soil, hence
depleting soil nutrient. More often, there is no vegetation in the areas surrounding the flare due
partly to the tremendous heat that is produced and acid nature of soil pH.

The effects of the changes in temperature on crops included stunted growth, scotched plants and
such other effects as withered young crops. Fertility deficiency reduces the capacity for
sustainable agriculture due to the acidification of the soils by the various pollutants associated
with gas flaring in the area.

The health implications can better be imagined. People in and around impacted sites are exposed
to hazardous air pollutants emitted during incomplete combustion of gas flare. These pollutants
are associated with a variety of adverse health impacts, including cancer, neurological, reproductive
and developmental effects.

They could result in deformities in children, lung damage and skin problems have also been common.
Hydrocarbon compounds are known to affect blood and blood-forming cells negatively. And could
give rise to anemia pancytopenia and leukemia.
Much of the flared gas can be converted for domestic use and it is estimated that about $2.5 billion is lost annually through gas flaring in government revenues. Gas conversation
projects is capable of contributing to the foreign exchange of the country.

Only true fiscal federalism can enable Nigerians appreciate the contributions of the Niger Delta to the economic viability of the nation, he said

HERDADI
Advocating & Protecting Human & Environmental Rights