The politics of gas flaring

Oil companies would both lobby and pressure seemingly gutless governments and their motley corrupt officials into backing down on whatever initiative is taken to achieve this, or give preference to paying fines which are peanuts compared to what accrues to them as income.

That the recalcitrant practice of gas flaring by oil companies operating in the country also defied the ability of the past successive military era to stop it by fiat clearly indicates that it is an issue that should not be treated, with levity, but with total commitment and absolute resolution.

It is even more appalling now that the target date of ending the practice has once again been extended to 2010 for the umpteenth time. By this act, it has become more difficult to track the number of times target dates for ending the ominous act in the country has been shifted. This exposes the weakness of public policy, and the shameful response to the nimble arm-twisting strategies deployed by oil companies in circumventing government initiatives aimed at improving economic policy outcome.

According to reports, only Russia probably flares more gas than Nigeria in the world today.

This makes the country the highest contributor to the more contentious issue of global warming that is gulping hefty resources to address worldwide, than all emissions from Sub-Saharan Africa.

These are obviously not the metrics where the country should score so high in her endeavour to emerge among the world's economic surprises just 13 years from now.

It will be germane in doing this to understand from other countries what it has taken them to effectively and efficiently end gas flaring in comparison to what it is taking Nigeria to achieve the same goal.

This, we believe, will not only be part of the antidote to further understanding why ending gas flaring has not worked in the country, but also provide the key to adopting and implementating cure-all strategies that will make it work this time.

Recent disclosure by Osita Izunaso, chairman of the Senate Committee on gas, that Nigeria bleeds daily to the extent of 2.5-billion cubic feet of gas to flaring, which is the equivalent of 40 percent of all natural gas used in the African continent, and the fact that this could amount to $2.5-billion yearly is sufficient to make the country adjust properly and uproot every stumbling block that inhibits its desire to end gas flaring.

It is encouraging that the senate is committed to fast-tracking the enactment of a gas development law that would ensure a better utilisation of the nation's huge gas resource.

In doing this, however, it has become necessary more than ever before, to meticulously research into, articulate and explore all curves in the effort at ensuring that all stakeholders buy in and stick to this latest date once and for all without fail.

The option of participatory and workable public private schemes should also be astutely explored to enthrone a regime that facilitates gas production and supply in the country, using the platform of the envisaged gas law.

While this new initiative is being worked out, crushing penalties should be imposed on oil companies and whoever sabotages government's efforts on this, and incentives given to those ensuring its success.

There is no gain saying that the gas reserve, if adequately harnessed, would not only help meet the urgent needs of the country, and indeed West Africa in the sphere of power, but could also give fillip to robust industrialisation in the sub-regional economy.

This, we believe, should arouse the interest of all well meaning stakeholders in realising the objective of ending the regime of gas flaring and its evil effects on the economy and environment.