Utilization of gas flaring
INTRODUCTION
Are natural resources a "curse" or a "blessing"? Many recognize the opportunities natural resources provide for economic growth and development and thus the challenge of ensuring that natural resource wealth leads to sustained economic growth and development. Still many countries are cursed by natural resources wealth. (Frederick van der Ploeg, 2011)
The Niger delta is situated around the southernmost part of Nigeria, which is located in the south- south District of the southern region of Nigeria. It bounded by some other communities such as Escravos, Ekpan, Batan, Odidi 1 and Odidi 2 etc. Fishing is the predominant act of these host communities which are just few kilometers apart from each other. Farming is another economic activity carried out by these villagers apart from fishing (Kamalu and Wokocha 2010).For politically convenience, the Niger Delta zone is divided into nine states (Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers); being made up of 185 local governments of over 800 communities from 12 major ethnic groups, with a population of about 30 million people. The country is richly endowed with crude oil and natural gas deposits which are the main source of energy and foreign exchange earnings.
“Blood may be thicker than water, but oil is thicker than both”, - Perry Anderson, New Left Review, 10, 2001, p.30.
The exploration of oil in Nigeria started in 1908 with the discovery of deposits at the Araromi area of the present Ondo State, then later in 1956 at Olibiri by Shell-BP. Following this discovery Nigeria joined the ranks of oil producers in 1958 when its first oil field, Olibiri field, began producing 5,100 bpd. After 1960, exploration rights in onshore and offshore areas adjoining the Niger Delta were extended to other foreign companies. By the late sixties and early seventies, Nigeria had attained a production level of over 2 million barrels of crude oil a day.
Are natural resources a "curse" or a "blessing"? Many recognize the opportunities natural resources provide for economic growth and development and thus the challenge of ensuring that natural resource wealth leads to sustained economic growth and development. Still many countries are cursed by natural resources wealth. (Frederick van der Ploeg, 2011)
The Niger delta is situated around the southernmost part of Nigeria, which is located in the south- south District of the southern region of Nigeria. It bounded by some other communities such as Escravos, Ekpan, Batan, Odidi 1 and Odidi 2 etc. Fishing is the predominant act of these host communities which are just few kilometers apart from each other. Farming is another economic activity carried out by these villagers apart from fishing (Kamalu and Wokocha 2010).For politically convenience, the Niger Delta zone is divided into nine states (Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers); being made up of 185 local governments of over 800 communities from 12 major ethnic groups, with a population of about 30 million people. The country is richly endowed with crude oil and natural gas deposits which are the main source of energy and foreign exchange earnings.
“Blood may be thicker than water, but oil is thicker than both”, - Perry Anderson, New Left Review, 10, 2001, p.30.
The exploration of oil in Nigeria started in 1908 with the discovery of deposits at the Araromi area of the present Ondo State, then later in 1956 at Olibiri by Shell-BP. Following this discovery Nigeria joined the ranks of oil producers in 1958 when its first oil field, Olibiri field, began producing 5,100 bpd. After 1960, exploration rights in onshore and offshore areas adjoining the Niger Delta were extended to other foreign companies. By the late sixties and early seventies, Nigeria had attained a production level of over 2 million barrels of crude oil a day.