The Hindu : International : Oil giant faces suit over flaring gas

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 22, 2005

International

International

Oil giant faces suit over flaring gas

LONDON: Shell and its partners on Monday found themselves facing a legal suit from local rural communities and western environmentalists over allegations of causing pollution and global warming by flaring gas in Nigeria. The case — designed to highlight the issue ahead of next month's G-8 summit on Africa and climate change — was lodged in the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Benin City by the Gbarain and other communities. Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund are supporting the move which came with a new 35-page report: ``Gas flaring in Nigeria: a human rights, environmental and economic monstrosity.'' Although burning off excess hydrocarbons was officially banned there in 1984, oil companies have repeatedly asked for — and been granted — special concessions to continue. Friends of the Earth says 71 million cubic metres a day of gas is flared instead of harnessing it for energy, losing Nigeria $2.5 billion in potential revenues annually and producing about 70 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. Deadly substances have been emitted by flares for more than 40 years and the Government has promised to ensure it ends in 2008. Shell said it would not meet that target.

— © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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