01 · The problem
What is happening
When crude oil is extracted, natural gas often comes up with it. Where infrastructure to use or capture it is lacking, this associated gas is burned in flares. Nigeria has been among the countries with the highest flaring volumes, according to the World Bank's Global Gas Flaring Tracker. Flaring releases carbon dioxide, black carbon and other pollutants, and communities near flare sites report noise, heat and health concerns. Nigeria has committed to reducing routine flaring and launched a programme to commercialise flare gas.
High severity. Serious, widespread effects requiring sustained action. Severity is descriptive editorial metadata summarising documented effects. It is not a measured index or a score.
02 · Causes
Why it is happening
- 01
Lack of gas capture infrastructure
Without pipelines or processing, associated gas is flared.
- 02
Economics of gas utilisation
Low prices and high costs discourage investment in capture.
- 03
Weak enforcement
Penalties have not always been sufficient to end routine flaring.
03 · Impacts
Who and what it affects
- 01
Greenhouse gas and black carbon emissions
Flaring contributes to climate change.
- 02
Local air pollution
Pollutants affect nearby communities.
- 03
Wasted energy resource
Gas that could supply power or cooking fuel is burned.
04 · Solutions
Documented approaches
Flare gas commercialisation
Auctioning flare sites to investors who capture and use the gas.
Expected effectConverts waste into a resource while reducing emissions.
Zero Routine Flaring by 2030
A World Bank-led initiative that Nigeria has endorsed.
Expected effectSets a target for ending routine flaring.
Higher penalties and monitoring
Satellite-based monitoring and increased flaring fees.
Expected effectImproves incentives for capture.
05 · Key indicators
What can be measured
No reliable quantitative indicator is included for this issue. TerraLens shows figures only where a credible source supports them — consult the sources below for current data.
06 · Sources
Where this comes from
- [1]Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership and Gas Flaring TrackerWorld Bankworldbank.org(opens in a new tab)
- [2]Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory CommissionFederal Government of Nigerianuprc.gov.ng(opens in a new tab)
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