Daily Trust (Abuja)
Hamisu Muhammad
2 November 2009
Abuaja — Environment is now a focal point when ever experts gather in the oil producing region like Nigeria. This is as a result of the green house gases that emanate from the gas flare and burning of hydrocarbons fuels that constitute great hazard to the whole world and increase the global warming.
Recently the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Kin Moon, raised concerns that Nigeria may not be able achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) if concerted efforts were not made to mitigate the effects of climate change. Moon made the comment in his address read by the Deputy Country Representative, Turhan Saleh during the UN Day celebration in Abuja.
Several agreements to address the issues of climate change such as the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are still on but most nations are not complying with them.
The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions .These amount to an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012.
The same concerns were also raised by many Non Governmental organizations within and outside the country. It is though, provoking that Nigerian could not stop gas flare in the oil producing areas within the country despite the several deadlines given by the government to the oil producers.
Recognizing that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity, the Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities."
Under the Treaty, the industrialised countries must meet their targets primarily through national measures. However, the Kyoto Protocol offers them an additional means of meeting their targets by way of three market-based mechanisms namely
Emissions trading - known as "the carbon market" Clean development mechanism (CDM) and Joint implementation (JI).
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is an arrangement under the Kyoto Protocol allowing industrialised countries with a greenhouse gas reduction commitment (called Annex 1 countries) to invest in projects that reduce emissions in developing countries (Annex 2 countries) as an alternative to more expensive emission reductions in their own countries
The CDM is supervised by the CDM Executive Board (CDM EB) and is under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties (COP/MOP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Although these agreements are still valid, most countries especially the developing nations are didn't adhere to them. In Nigeria one of the major reasons for the low compliance is the lack of awareness by most firms. Only recently, the Pan Ocean Oil Corporation, an indigenous Oil and Gas Company, in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation set the ball rolling with the announcement that its gas utilization project at the Ovade-Ogharafe oil field in Delta state has been successfully registered under the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism. The project is designed to reduce green house gas emission by more than two million tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Chief Festus Fadeyi, Chairman of Pan Ocean Oil Corporation, and operators of the project, stated recently when he visited the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Mohammed S. Barkindo the project it is the largest CDM project in Africa and when at full capacity will provide 135 million standard cubic feet per day for electricity.
He said that this gas which otherwise would have been flared will be sold to developed countries to generate revenue for the country.
"The CDM registration has taken more than four years of efforts that were led by Carbon Limits of Norway. The credits will be sold to NUON, the Dutch state utility, so that the carbon emissions reductions that occur in Nigeria will help the Netherlands meet its obligation under the Kyoto Protocol," he said.
Chief Fadeyi explained that the project has important local environmental benefits such as reduced emissions of dangerous gases like Nitrogen Oxides, NOx and Volatile Organic Compounds, VOCs. He noted that this will improve the working conditions of the employees and the living standards of the nearby community.
The project which is being run in conjunction with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC has demonstrated that CDM can help achieve improved economics and financing for gas flare reductions.
Also commending the initiative a consultant to the World Bank, Mr. Felix Dayo, said the CDM project by Pan Ocean Oil Corporation is an example for other international oil companies, independent power producers and even state governments.
Chief Fadeyi commended the efforts of the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Sanusi Barkindo who has been championing the cause of CDM projects in the energy sector.
Dayo said Nigeria was capable of raising $1.25bn by exploring its energy sector through the sale of carbon credit.
He stated that there were a lot to be gained in the business if Nigerian investors could key into the CDM projects, especially as the current global price per tonne of carbon credit is put at $12.5.
The example set by Pan African Oil in Nigeria become a reminder to many oil companies operating in Nigeria, government and other power plants which have same facilities but continue to ignore this concept.
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A very interesting and thoughtful article. The best way for Africa to help itself with GHG is to stop exporting oil and gas to the outside world. Gas that is valuable enough to ship abroad and sell should be sold at a price that is competitive enough to keep it home. Catch all of that gas, and use it for yourselves. You will then have electricity and cooking fuel both. It is maddening to see forests felled for charcoal cooking fuel while cleaner-to-use gas is being wasted. Each of your nations should try to be the last to run out of fuel. Move to solar, wind, geothermal and biofuels from wastes for your energy sources.
Other activities to fight climate change troubles include the restoration of your waterways to full functionality by clearing the weeds that clog them and the silt that they have left behind.
Just a factual correction. Nigerian LNG is not sold to Benin, Togo and Ghana. There is a gas pipeline from Nigeria to these three countries. But it does not carry LNG. It carries natural gas under pressure. Unfortunately, becuse there is insufficient gas being gathered and shipped from Nigeria, the pipeline has been empty for over a year.
In today's climate talk that's going and will be converse more in December must not be damaging to Africa. Together, Africa MUST STAND FIRMLY and get what she deserves - BETTER and LASTING AGREEMENT. That's, what is beneficial for Africa. Any negativities effects concerning our people standard of living MUST NOT be accepted by any Africa Government. The days of a/an African Live seeing as less than an insect or any other most be OVER and SHOULD NOT be negotiated in any Climate talks. Our "Africans" lives and living standard is/are as important as any other lives. Therefore, as Africans head to the climate talk in December, please open your ears, listen carefully, don't be trick, and don't accept anything lesser to solve your prombles for the betterness of your people in the whole of Africa - period !!!!! The days of damaging Africans' lives, enviroment, living conditions; the physical and metal abuses should and most all come to an end. Therefore, we "Africans" should not be conveince with their sweet tooth to accept something lesser where'in our people keep continue to suffer and die for their pleasures and the lack of consideration for Africans lives and living standards. God Bless Africa
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