Shell makes flaring pledge

The oil giant Shell has announced that it will put an end to its controversial gas flaring in Nigeria by commissioning a pipeline system that will allow excess gas vapours to be used on the domestic market.

Many observers, however, doubt the company’s sincerity, quoting previous failures to deliver on the issue.

Shell has signed a $101million (£62m, €70m) deal for a 42-kilometre pipeline with Saipem Contracting Nigeria, under which surplus natural gas vapours will be transported rather than burned off into the atmosphere. Gas flaring is theoretically banned in Nigeria.

A company statement said: ‘This is an extremely important project for [Shell] in terms of our commitment to ending routine gas flaring, and consolidating our leadership position in the domestic gas market.

‘Security and funding permitting, we will continue to make good progress in bringing on the projects that will reduce flares and boost gas supply to the domestic market.’

Environmental activists have questioned the company’s willingness to implement the plans.

Philip Jakpor, media officer of Friends of the Earth Nigeria, said: ‘Shell cannot be trusted to tell the truth on matters of flare-out. We have heard over and over again about gas-gathering infrastructure that they have been constructing to harness wasted gas, while spokespersons continue to justify why gas flare cannot stop.

‘They have consistently breached our deadlines since 1984 and even their self-imposed deadlines with impunity, so we do not believe their lies on ending flares.’

Shell has long been criticized over its role in Nigeria. It is estimated that approximately 75 per cent of Nigeria’s natural gas is flared, about half from Shell, allegedly spreading poisonous chemicals causing respiratory and other health problems in local communities.

In 2005 the Nigerian federal high court outlawed flaring, calling it a violation of human rights, and this year the Dutch parliament questioned Shell over its activities in Nigeria.

Gas flaring is a process under which surplus combustible vapours from oil wells are burned off into the atmosphere, either as a means of disposal or as a security measure to relieve well pressure.