By Moses Patience Chat
The World Bank has acknowledged Nigeria as a significant contributor to global gas flare decline in the year 2022.
This was revealed in the new satellite data compiled by the World Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR).
According to the report, three countries, Nigeria, Mexico, and the United States accounted for most of the decline in global gas flaring in 2022.
Two other countries Kazakhstan and Colombia stand out for consistently reducing flaring volumes in the last seven years.
The report also disclosed that progress in reducing gas flaring resumed in 2022, with gas flared worldwide falling by 5 billion cubic meters (Bcm) to 139 Bcm. This, the World Bank said, is the lowest level since 2010.
The GGFR also estimated that in 2022 gas flaring released 357 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents, 315 million tonnes in the form of carbon dioxide and 42 million tonnes in the form of methane.
The report further considered the ‘state of the science’ and the uncertainty surrounding how much methane is released from flaring.
“We’re concerned by the amount of methane emitted through flaring, particularly from flares that are not working properly. Methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide in the short term.
“So, we need to understand this more and are ramping up our efforts to help developing countries tackle methane emissions,” said Zubin Bamji, the World Bank’s GGFR Program Manager.
In the report, World Bank Vice President for Infrastructure, Guangzhe Chen, added that the drop in levels of gas flaring is a welcoming one, especially in this time where countries are concerned about energy security.
His words: “After a decade of stalled progress, global gas flaring volumes fell in 2022 by around three percent, which is a welcome drop, especially during a time of concern about energy security for many countries.
“We continue to encourage all oil producers to seize opportunities to end this polluting and wasteful practice.”
