In Nigeria, 70 million cubic metres – equivalent to at least one quarter of the UK’s natural gas consumption – are burnt every day in gas flaring in the oil wells of the Niger Delta. Gas flaring in Nigeria accounts for roughly half of sub-Saharan Africa industrial greenhouse. The gas flares burn 24 hours a day, sometimes for years, releasing sulphur and nitrogen dioxides, benzene, xylene and dioxins; and even the carcinogenic benzapyrene. For the 30 million inhabitants of the Niger Delta, this means skin and respiratory ailments, risk of cancer, low birth weight and deformed babies and the death of plants and wildlife. Particles from the flares cover everything nearby with a fine layer of soot. The rain that falls almost every day is highly acidic. According to Friends of the Earth, if it were not flared, the gas would be worth US $2.5bn per year. But for Shell, Chevron, Agip, Total and other Western companies operating in Nigeria, it is cheaper to burn it off than to invest in the infrastructure to capture and sell it or reinject it back into the wells.
Posted on: Thu, 10 Oct 2013 09:54:40 +0000
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