Gas flaring

Current Context : Recently, Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report has been released.

• It is publsihed by the World Bank.
• Report is compiled with the help of World Bank’s Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) Partnership.

Relevant Data

• 139 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas was flared at upstream oil across the globe in 2022.
• Global gas flaring in 2023 has increased by 7% from 2022 leading to a rise of 23 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
• Contributing nations : Russia, Iran, Iraq, USA, etc.

About Gas Flaring

• It refers to the burning of the natural gas associated with oil extraction.
• Reasons: due to safety Concern (de-pressurise the equipment).
• It is practised from the beginning of oil production over 160 years ago.
• Impacts : It produces nitrogen oxides which directly and indirectly impacts air quality.