ACEP protests against gas flaring

Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), an energy think-tank, has stated that the country will lose millions of dollars as a result of the flaring gas by the Jubilee partners.

It said due diligence was not conducted before Tullow Oil was given approval to flare the gas, stating that government’s decision was largely informed by financial consideration rather than the welfare of the peosple.

Tullow Ghana this week said it had received a confirmation letter from the Minister of Energy & Petroleum, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, which has authorized it to begin flaring gas at the Jubilee Oilfield.

According to the company, the Minister said he had no objection to Tullow Ghana flaring gas at the Jubilee Oilfield.

The letter, it said, permitted Tullow Ghana to flare 500 mmscf of gas per month until the end of October 2014.

Nasir Alfa Mohammed, Senior Energy Policy Manager of ACEP, in a statement, urged government to expedite action on the completion of the gas project to allow the country to gain additional revenue.

He said the Jubilee partners must be compelled to disclose the volumes of gas to be flared on daily basis, adding that contingency plans should be made public.

Alfa Mohammed said the environmental and health effects of flaring gas could contribute to a rise in greenhouse gases, which could led to global warming.

Niger Delta in Nigeria as an example of an area suffering adverse environmental impact of acid rains, resulting from flaring gas, he said, explaining that acid rain acidifies lakes, rivers, streams and damages the vegetation.

Alfa Mohammed said the potential exposure of hazardous air pollutants could lead to an increase in cancers, deformities in children, lung damage, skin and nervous problems.

He called for close monitoring of the gas flaring process.