THE POWER OF FLARE GAS
Dynamic expansion of the oil-and-gas industry continues to fuel
the demand for new technologies that tackle the impact of flare
gas emissions globally. While the production of oil has grown by
roughly 30% over the past two decades, the climate impact of flare
gas, typically considered a waste by-product by the oil-and-gas
industry, continues to be a cause for concern.
The company recently launched the HSK78G natural gas
generator series, designed to provide reliable power regardless
of the natural gas source or the climate, and capable of
generating power from very aggressive fuels otherwise
considered waste products. “The quantity of unburned fuel that
needs to be flared is usually known, but the question is what to
do with it,” Nezerwe adds.
The World Bank, which has launched an initiative called Zero
Routine Flaring by 2030, has stated that, if this quantity of gas
were used for power generation, it could provide about 750
billion kWh of electricity, or more than the African continent’s
current annual electricity consumption. While associated gas
cannot always be used to produce power, it can often be utilised
in a number of other productive ways or conserved.
“A critical development for the oil-and-gas industry is the
advancing technology in natural gas generators to utilise fuel
sources that would otherwise be considered water products,”
Nezerwe highlights. “This leads to robust power solutions even
with very aggressive fuels with minimal derating.
The result is that routine flaring can be reduced and transformed
into a more environment-friendly option, while also helping
communities by supplying electricity. These advancements
in power generation applications allow operators to utilise
environmentally harmful raw flare gas for diverse purposes
instead of simply burning it, with clear benefits to the
environment.
FREE TRADE AND ENERGY
The climate impact of flare gas, typically considered a waste by-product by
the oil-and-gas industry, continues to be a cause for concern.
Globally, 140 million cubic meters of natural gas are flared annually,
emitting more than 300 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) into the
environment. According to power solutions provider Cummins, a
lack of infrastructure to capture and sell the flare gas released when
drilling for oil is a major environmental problem. Billions of dollars
in wasted natural gas could be used to generate reliable, affordable
electricity, and yield billions more per year in increased global
economic output.
“Governments, development institutions and oil companies
around the world are being pressured to look at the amount of
money spent in gas flaring, and the damage it is causing to the
environment,” says Linda Nezerwe, technical specialist at Cummins
and an expert in emissions control for both diesel and gas
generator sets.
The HSK78G Cummins generator is capable of generating power from very
aggressive fuels otherwise considered waste products.
42
African Mining February 2020
The African Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCFTA)
will constitute the world’s largest free trade area, consolidating
an integrated market of 1.3 billion consumers with a combined
gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately USD3.4- trillion.
The objective is to realise a continent-wide single market for
goods and services with free movement of business, persons
and investments.
The AfCFTA envisions to expand intra-African trade and intensify
regional integration by successively eliminating tariffs on 90% of
product categories. Removal of such trade barriers assures to not
only improve efficiency, enhance competition, and incentivise
development of strategic solutions to local challenges through
regional economies of scale, but essentially advance the efficacy
of resource allocation.
Successful implementation of the agreement is set to have a
profound impact on the continent’s energy sector. Regional
integration pertaining to energy, represents a viable solution
for emerging economies to enhance their energy landscapes
in furtherance of realising social, environmental and economic
benefits owing to improved efficacy of resource utilisation.
Regional integration is pivotal to ensure that energy resources
get from localities where they are most affordable, to where they
are required.
Correspondingly, regional integration on account of the AfCFTA,
is forecast to improve security of supply. Integrating operational
reserves and installed capacity enables combined power
systems from having to invest in additional facilities. In the event
of emergency situations, regional collaboration provides an
alternative source of supply for operating reserves and support
thereof. Moreover, sharing with neighbouring countries can
provide advanced system flexibility and reliability by expanding
the supply portfolio of diverse energy resources as opposed to
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