Senate, oil companies differ on gas flare figure

The Senate on Monday disagreed with oil companies in the Niger Delta over the percentage of gas currently being flared in the country.Gas flaring is a practice used for the disposal of natural gas in petroleum producing areas where there is no infrastructure to make use of the gas. It is widely recognised as a waste of energy and an added load of carbon emissions to the atmosphere.The Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas Resources, Mrs. Nkechi Nwaogu, who spoke in Warri when she led other members of the committee on a visit to the Nigerian Gas Company Limited, said the 12 per cent flare level as claimed by the oil companies was false.Experts say Nigeria loses several billions of dollars every year as companies burn off unwanted natural gas released during oil production.The flaring and venting produce more greenhouse gas emissions and cause many who live in the oil producing communities chronic health and environmental problems associated with the gas flares.The National Assembly had said only zero per cent gas flaring was acceptable and urged the Federal Government to give priority to infrastructural development in the Niger Delta.According to Nwaogu, who frowned on the continuous gas flaring by oil companies, the 12 per cent gas flare claimed by the oil companies does not represent the actual percentage flared.The senator warned oil companies involved in the act to stop forthwith, noting that the Senate would review the issue of gas flaring and come up with stiffer penalties.
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