Global Quest for Zero Routine Flaring: An Appraisal of Nigeria’s Legal and Regulatory Abatement Frameworks

Abstract

Author(s): Nwozor, Agaptus; Olanrewaju, John Shola; Ake, Modupe; Aleyomi, Michael | Abstract: This paper evaluates Nigeria’s commitment to ending gas flaring within the context of the global quest for zero routine flaring by 2030. The combination of strategies deployed by Nigeria has been generally ineffective in inducing compliance from IOCs. The ineffectiveness is linked to both Nigeria’s weak institutional framework and the unattractiveness of economic payoffs associated with investing in gas-gathering infrastructure by IOCs. Using data from secondary sources, the paper locates the non-realization of flare-out dates in the disconnect between legal enactments and economic permutations, especially in view of the huge capital outlay required to develop gas-gathering infrastructure and the uncertainty surrounding the gas market. The paper contends that achieving zero gas flaring in 2020 as planned by Nigeria or 2030 as projected by the international community will entail going beyond present operational arrangements by adopting a holistic implementation strategy that is capable of extracting unconditional compliance from IOCs.