Nigeria flared roughly 148.7 million customary cubic ft (mscuf) of fuel within the first half of 2024, valued at about $359.85 million.
That is seven per cent larger than the 138.3mscuf of gas flared within the first half of 2023.
That is as stakeholders referred to as for pressing motion to deal with fuel flaring and improve fuel commercialisation to alleviate energy shortages and enhance infrastructure.
Minister of state for Surroundings, Dr Iziaq Salako, who made the figures recognized, expressed concern that regardless of concerted efforts, the nation is but to file a lot progress in lowering fuel flaring.
Salako acknowledged this on the Third Nationwide Extractive Dialogue (NED) on Fuel Flare Discount 2024, held in Abuja on Wednesday.
The 2024 NED is collectively organised by Areas for Change, the Ford Basis, and the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and is themed “Fuel Flare Discount: Catalyst for Accelerating Nigeria’s Path To Web-Zero Emissions and Sustainable Improvement.”
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The minister reaffirmed the nation’s dedication to ending fuel flaring to foster a conducive atmosphere.
He identified the tangible progress made below Nigeria’s Fuel Flare Commercialisation Programme, launched in 2016 to draw funding in fuel seize applied sciences.
Salako nonetheless, famous that regardless of developments, Nigeria nonetheless faces formidable obstacles in reaching its fuel flaring discount targets by 2030.
He listed Infrastructure deficits, regulatory shortcomings, and expertise gaps as elements which have continued to impede progress.
The minister burdened the necessity for enhanced collaboration with worldwide companions and elevated funding in renewable power options.
He mentioned: “Traditionally, fuel flaring has been a typical observe within the Nigerian oil and fuel trade because of the absence of infrastructure. In consequence, the fuel has been repeatedly burned in oil fields resulting in the discharge of dangerous pollution into the environment.
He added that, “Regardless of regulatory efforts, enforcement laws have been difficult and lots of operators nonetheless flare fuel as a result of inadequate penalties and the excessive value of fuel seize and utilisation applied sciences.
Nigeria’s coverage on fuel flaring has nonetheless advanced considerably through the years.
“As of as we speak, Nigeria stays one of many prime 10 international locations on the planet when it comes to fuel flaring volumes. The Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Company (NNPC), reported that roughly 324 billion cubic ft of fuel was flared in 2023 translating to important financial losses and environmental damages together with injury to the well being of the folks. This quantity, although, represents a slight lower from earlier years, figures derived from the Nationwide Fuel Flare Tracker reveals that Nigeria has flared 148.7 million static cubic ft of fuel within the first six months of 2024 which is about seven per cent above the identical degree above the for a similar interval in 2023,”
Additionally talking, the manager director, Area for Change, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri identified that fuel flaring has far-reaching socio-economic and environmental impacts, notably on host communities.
“It exacerbates world warming, results in financial losses, and squanders potential energy era sources.
Ibezim-Ohaeri, mentioned since Nigeria has focused 2060 as its yr of power transition, owing to local weather change and likewise concentrating on to cease fuel flaring, collaborative actions have turn into expedient.
Nevertheless, it’s inside our energy to alter this narrative. By lowering fuel flaring, we will considerably reduce our carbon emissions, unlock financial worth, and foster sustainable growth that advantages all Nigerians”, she added.
Talking for host communities within the Niger Delta area, HRH King Bubawaye Dakolo of Bayelsa State mentioned operators and the federal government should compensate oil host communities for many years of fuel flares which have left important impression on the folks.
The monarch acknowledged that fuel flaring, which poses a major menace to the lives of individuals, has not been decreased within the Niger Delta communities.
Stressing the menace has not abated, he mentioned: “So most of us haven’t seen any signal of discount in fuel flaring to this point. Let me let everybody right here know that the place I dwell, essentially the most polluting fuel flare on the planet is only a kilometre.
“It was burning after I left the Ikiteoma kingdom on Monday. And it’s nonetheless burning now. For all of the flares that I’ve recognized, effectively over 150 of them earlier than PIA they’re all nonetheless burning out as we converse.”
The monarch who described it as a false impression to say fuel flaring has decreased, mentioned the menace is as persistent because it was earlier than the enactment of the Petroleum Business Act (PIA).
He mentioned because the legislation provides the operators the choice of paying fines for fuel flares, they lean on the leverage to perpetuate the crime in opposition to the host communities.
He described the PIA as a harmful doc from the angle of the communities.
In line with him, it’s a false impression to say fuel flare will likely be taken to the market as a result of it’s unimaginable as flared fuel means burnt fuel.
Dakolo mentioned: “Inside simply as PIA could indicate is a Petroleum Business Act. It’s an Act that’s meant for the operators of the trade leaving us fully out.
“And so, it’s extra like a harmful doc so removed from the communities’ perspective. Why am I saying so?
“It says very properly in part 104 that fuel shouldn’t be flared, nonetheless, it goes right down to say for those who flare fuel, you would flare as a lot as you need to flare and pay your so-called penalty of $2 for 1000 customary cubic ft of fuel flared or 50 cents of the identical quantity flared in case you are a small operator the way in which royalties are paid.”
He revealed how Shell Petroleum Improvement Firm (SDPC) notified him of its plan to flare fuel in his group in August 2014.
The monarch, who famous he wouldn’t stop the oil large because the PIA allowed the fuel flare to the peril of the lives of the communities, threatened to video the fuel flare.
In line with him, fuel flare nonetheless takes place below the nostril of the communities unchecked.
He mentioned, “After which final week on Thursday, Shell got here to debate with me that they’re planning one other flaring as a result of they need to take a look at effectively lower than 50 meters from folks’s homes, about 150 meters from my palace.
“They usually say they got here to solicit my help and I mentioned what do you imply? Help! How are you going to get help from me? In the event you depart it to me, you gained’t even do it. “Nevertheless, I can’t inform you to not flare as a result of the federal Authorities desires all the cash even at the price of our blood.
In the meantime, NEITI government secretary, Drm Orji Ogbonnaya Orji tasked the nation with zero fuel flare in 2025.
He mentioned with the United Nations projection of Nigeria’s inhabitants to rise to over 260 million in 2030 and over 400 million by 2050, which is simply ten years away from the nation’s internet zero goal of 2060, NEITI predicts an upsurge in Nigeria’s power demand that will surpass 47 per cent projected world enhance by the identical interval in 2050.
Orji, who was represented by Dieter Bassi, mentioned the theme of this Dialogue is due to this fact of giant curiosity to NEITI as an company as a result of the best time to desk the problem of fuel flaring as a nationwide agenda for public dialogue is now.
He mentioned: “At a time when Nigeria is grappling with big power gaps, the worldwide transition to renewable power creates a fair better want for this well timed intervention.
“NEITI extremely commends the Areas for Change for bringing this situation to the entrance burner.
“NEITI recognises that Nigeria must place itself because the expertise frontier to take full benefit of the alternatives that lie within the power transition journey particularly as pertains to fuel manufacturing, utilisation, fuel flaring and carbon emission discount.
“The alternatives are within the areas of investments in expertise and innovation that can guarantee a Simply Transition to internet zero emission by 2060.”
