Communities want explanation to gas flaring

Communities near  the  Atuabo gas processing plant in the Ellembelle District of the Western  Region have expressed  concern about the flaring  of gas at the plant.

The residents say they observe the flaring  of gas from the plant  mostly at night.

Articulating the concerns of the communities,an environmental safety advocate and the Paramount Chief of  the Western Nzema Traditional Area, Awulae Anor Adjaye III, said  it was important for officials of the  Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas) and the  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  to inform the communities on the  processes involved in the production of gas and its consequences.

 Awulae Anor Adjaye was speaking  at a  meeting with the Petroleum Commission and the Western Regional House of Chiefs  on oil and gas issues at Busuah.

 Officials of the  commission  said the  issues of flaring or venting and the effects were the responsibilities of  the EPA, hence they would not be able to answer related questions.

Responding to the concerns of the communities, officials of  the EPA said they had issued  a permit to Ghana Gas to flare gas  during its commissioning stage.

Lack of effective sensitisation

The EPA said the apprehension of the communities could be attributed to the fact that Ghana Gas was not carrying  out the sustained community engagement, which was part of the requirement.

The EPA said it permitted Ghana Gas to flare about 16mmscf or more during its commissioning stage and submit  a report to it at the end of the commissioning period.

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It said even though EPA was satisfied with what was going on at the plant by way of flaring gas when the need arose, it was important for  the community relations unit of Ghana Gas to educate the people regularly.

Unknown duration 

 The EPA admitted that flaring and venting were two negative environmental consequences of oil and gas production, and the public was  rightly concerned about the potential environmental effects of such   development.

It, however, indicated that there was no time limit to how long it would take for the commissioning process to achieve  full production, and said  Ghana Gas had to ensure effective awareness creation.

Environmental implications

The environmental implications of flaring or venting include climate change; contaminants acidifying  the soil which would affect agriculture.

The  Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health, 2013 by Science and Education Publishing, a US-based research unit, indicated that gas flaring contributed to climate change, which has serious implications for  the world.