ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF GAS FLARING

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF GAS FLARING

1 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 21st
century according to the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC).

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.

2 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 (SO2) 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 CO2 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, SO2 and NO2 gases and their particulate matter derivatives, sulfates and nitrates, contribute to visibility degradation and harm public health.

3 AGRICULTURE : The flares associated with gas flaring give rise to atmospheric contaminants. These include oxides of Nitrogen, Carbon and Sulphur (NO2, CO2, CO, SO2), particulate matter, hydrocarbons and ash, photochemical oxidants, and hydrogen sulphide (H2S).

These contaminants acidify the soil, hence depleting soil nutrient.

Studies have shown that the nutritional value of crops within such vicinity are reduced.

In some cases, 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.

Reference concluded that the soils of the study area are fast losing their fertility and capacity for sustainable agriculture due to the acidification of the soils by the various pollutants associated with gas flaring in the area.

With the above, its therefore imperative that gas flaring should be stopped so that the gas can be processed and produced into

cooking/domestic gas and used for generation of power for gas producing areas.

Odigiri Ween Bela

Progressive Advocate

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The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it but at the end, there it stands.