Previous Next

Reps to Nigeria govt: direct IOCs to convert flared gas to electricity

The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government to compel oil and gas producing companies engaged in gas flaring to immediately build cottage hospitals, as well as convert flared gases to electricity for the benefit of host communities.

This followed a motion on the need to compel oil and gas companies to end gas flaring and convert same to electricity and quality cottage hospital to host communities in Eleme, Tai and Oyibo communities of Rivers State.

Nwaeke reminded the House that Nigeria has abundant reserves of natural gas, estimated at over 100 trillion cubic meters, qualifying the country to be one of the countries with proven gas reserves and having significant waste flared around its environs.

According to him, Oyigbo, Eleme, and Tai Local Government Areas in Rivers State contributes greatly to the nation’s oil and gas, hosting over 10 flow stations in Oyigbo and two flow in Tai and Eleme, thus, housing over two refineries out of the four refineries in Nigeria.

He said flared gas is a major cheap source of electricity capable of taking care of the power needs of host communities and even beyond that, it may turn the economic growth of the country through small and medium-scale businesses.

He also said the large volume of gas flared has an enormously devastating effect on the populace in the host communities, ranging from various health issues, soil fertility loss, corrosion of roofing sheets, agricultural decline, and biodiversity depletion.

He argued that the deliberate refusal by the oil and gas companies to tackle the menace could generate protests and agitations that may sometimes cripple the economy and cause the loss of precious human lives.

He maintained that with the environmental hazards of gas flaring resulting in humongous revenue losses, there is a need to compel the oil and gas companies to activate their corporate social responsibilities (CSR) and build Quality Cottage Hospital at Oyigbo and provide electricity to Eleme and Tai Communities, taking advantage of the new electricity act of 2023.