12 °c
London
Thursday, June 8, 2023
No Result
View All Result
FurtherAfrica
  • Countries
    • Angola
    • Botswana
    • Cape Verde
    • DRC
    • Eswatini
    • Ethiopia
    • Kenya
    • Malawi
    • Mauritius
    • Mozambique
    • Namibia
    • Nigeria
    • Rwanda
    • South Africa
    • Tanzania
    • Uganda
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
  • Interviews
  • Understanding
  • Videos
  • Travel
  • Weekend
  • About
FurtherAfrica
  • Countries
    • Angola
    • Botswana
    • Cape Verde
    • DRC
    • Eswatini
    • Ethiopia
    • Kenya
    • Malawi
    • Mauritius
    • Mozambique
    • Namibia
    • Nigeria
    • Rwanda
    • South Africa
    • Tanzania
    • Uganda
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
  • Interviews
  • Understanding
  • Videos
  • Travel
  • Weekend
  • About
No Result
View All Result
FurtherAfrica
No Result
View All Result
Home Africa

Solving the gas flaring challenge in Africa

The Exchange by The Exchange
November 11, 2020
in Africa, Energy, Environment, Gas, Infrastructure, Oil, Research
Reading Time: 3 mins read
834 63
0
Solving the gas flaring challenge in Africa
Share via QRWhatsappShare on FacebookShare on TwitterLinkedInPinteresteMail

In the sub-Saharan region, approximately 75% of the population lives without access to reliable or stable energy. And yet, Africa flares around 40 billion cubic metres of gas, annually, of which 35 billion cubic metres are flared in sub-Saharan Africa. These statistics provided by ResearchGate highlight how much gas is being wasted and the importance of investing in solutions that minimise this in favour of changing the African power conversation.

Flaring does more than waste, it impacts citizens’ health. The ResearchGate analysis, for example, found that Nigeria flared 23 billion cubic metres annually, alone. And research by the Climate & Clean Air Coalition found that in Nigeria, some people had not seen the night sky for years. Around two million people along the Niger Delta living within kilometres of a gas flare that fights with the sun for dominance of the sky and they suffer from a litany of health problems.

From the health of people to the health of the planet, flaring is not the right answer to the problem. It is a waste of a valuable resource that does little to boost economies or change the power situation for millions of people. The gas that is being wasted by flaring can provide power to people that desperately need it, instead, it burns to waste and pollution. But what if there was another way?

Also read: More than 4.6 tcf of natural gas flaring globally in 2019

Flare to power
In Africa, Aggreko has recently completed a gigawatt of projects that use the concept of flare to power. The company has developed end-to-end solutions that have positioned them as the go-to provider for this type of project on the continent, and the company is still evolving its offerings to further minimise the problems caused by flaring. These are not multi-million-dollar projects that require an extensive financial commitment from the gas companies, they are simple and intelligent solutions that can be used by anyone.

Currently flared gas is a problematic by-product and as governments put more robust legislation in place and implement fines, this flared gas could end up becoming an expensive line on the balance sheet. It has no value to the business today and it will likely become an expensive problem very soon. But what if this could be used as a free or subsidised fuel source? What if operators could have the problem taken off their hands at a low cost to their business but with a solid benefit to their reputation?

With the right solution, it is possible to deliver cheap and stable power using this, essentially, free fuel that only costs as much as the service provider charges. For Aggreko, this requires a simple connection to a grid and gas treatment, but after that, the system produces power that is hugely competitive in price compared with traditional power infrastructure and that will deliver cheap and accessible power to people living in communities. Communities that had, until now, faced a future of both physical and light pollution.

A stable alternative
Not only does flare to power provide a cheaper and more stable energy source, it removes a future energy problem right off the table. For oil producers, flaring is going to start costing money in legislation and climate change regulation. However, they now can turn the problem on its head, to translate pollution into accessible power for governments, businesses, and citizens. And to shift reputational blame into a reputational advantage. This is further enhanced by the fact that they can charge for this service, essentially turning a waste product into a profit.

Currently, the gas situation on the continent is precarious and yet gas power is probably the most important part of the energy mix. It is significantly cleaner than coal and liquid fires, and it runs at a stable level – one that renewables cannot necessarily match.

Aggreko takes the gas that would normally be flared, puts it into a generator, and creates power. While the generators have their own emissions, they are lower and far less intrusive than flaring and therefore do not add to the pollution burden. If power companies embark on the flare to power journey, they can shift their balance sheet, change how they impact the environment, align the business with incoming climate regulation, and transform their reputation. It is an intelligent solution to a problem that has had a negative impact on the country and citizens, and it is one that any company can benefit from in a matter of weeks.

With limited infrastructure demands and immediately accessible expertise, companies can leverage the Aggreko system to completely change the African power conversation.

Original article on The Exchange

Related

Tags: africaAggrekocarbon emissionsClimate & Clean Air Coalitionclimate changeCO2 emissionsenvironmentGasgas flaringpollutionResearchGateSolving the gas flaring challenge in Africaафрикаأفريقياアフリカ非洲
ScanSendShare359Tweet224Share63Pin81Send
The Exchange

The Exchange

News analysis and comment from the The Exchange, a leading publication providing economic news and analysis on the capital markets of Africa, with a specific interest in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and Congo. We provide features in banking, capital markets, energy, mining, manufacturing and industrial development.

Related Posts

Economy

Ethiopia and Brazil keen to strengthen bilateral ties

by FurtherAfrica
June 8, 2023
Venture Capital

Uganda fintech startup Zofi Cash receives US$1M pre-seed

by TechGist Africa
June 8, 2023
Angola Portugal double taxation
Economy

Portugal announces new credit line for Angola

by FurtherAfrica
June 8, 2023
Energy

Eni bets on agri-business in Africa to expand biofuel production

by FurtherAfrica
June 8, 2023
Economy

Zimbabweans drive stocks up 600% in rush to dodge currency crash

by FurtherAfrica
June 8, 2023
Platform Africa 2023
 
Mozambique eVisa
 
MozParks
 

Translate this page

Read the Latest

Economy

Ethiopia and Brazil keen to strengthen bilateral ties

by FurtherAfrica
June 8, 2023
0

The governments of Ethiopia and Brazil have reaffirmed their commitments to further enhance the longstanding bilateral and diplomatic relations, according...

Read more

Uganda fintech startup Zofi Cash receives US$1M pre-seed

June 8, 2023
Angola Portugal double taxation

Portugal announces new credit line for Angola

June 8, 2023

Eni bets on agri-business in Africa to expand biofuel production

June 8, 2023

Zimbabweans drive stocks up 600% in rush to dodge currency crash

June 8, 2023

FurtherAfrica Partners Network

The Exchange Farmers Review Africa 360 Mozambique
TechGist Africa Energy Capital & Power Club of Mozambique
Taarifa Rwanda Web3Africa See Africa Today
Africa Global Funds Novafrica CrudeMix Africa
Harambee Africa Botswana unplugged Financial Insights Zambia
O Económico Digilogic Africa  

Subscribe to FurtherAfrica

Enter your email address to receive new articles on your email.

Join 107,190 other subscribers.
FurtherAfrica

© 2021 FurtherMarkets

FurtherAfrica is a FurtherMarkets Limited platform

  • Countries
  • Interviews
  • Understanding
  • Videos
  • Travel
  • Weekend
  • About

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Countries
    • Angola
    • Botswana
    • Cape Verde
    • DRC
    • Eswatini
    • Ethiopia
    • Kenya
    • Malawi
    • Mauritius
    • Mozambique
    • Namibia
    • Nigeria
    • Rwanda
    • South Africa
    • Tanzania
    • Uganda
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
  • Interviews
  • Understanding
  • Videos
  • Travel
  • Weekend
  • About

© 2021 FurtherMarkets

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?