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A newly published Nigerian economic report has listed Libya among the world’s leading contributors to gas flaring in 2024, despite a notable decline in the country’s oil production.
The report, featured in Nigeria’s Leadership newspaper, also identifies Algeria, Iraq, Nigeria, Russia, Iran, the United States, Venezuela, and Mexico as key offenders.
The findings indicate that over 75% of global gas flaring is concentrated in these nine countries, even though they collectively produce only half of the world’s oil. The report suggests that this disproportionate rate of gas flaring continues to cause serious economic and environmental harm.
“The continuation of gas flaring in these countries, with limited effective action to address the issue, has led to financial losses exceeding $63 billion,” the report warns.
It also notes that gas flaring levels have increased for the second consecutive year, citing a lack of technological solutions and regulatory enforcement as key drivers of the problem.
Despite being on the list, Libya and Algeria experienced a slight drop in their gas flaring volumes in 2024. However, the report clarifies that this reduction is largely the result of declining oil production, rather than deliberate environmental or policy interventions.
“Libya remains one of the highest contributors to associated gas flaring globally, even as its oil output falls,” the report states, underscoring the need for more proactive measures.
Gas flaring, the burning of natural gas associated with oil extraction, not only represents a waste of valuable energy resources but also contributes significantly to carbon emissions and climate change.
The report’s findings reinforce longstanding international concerns over the environmental governance of major oil-producing nations.
As the economic and environmental costs continue to rise, calls for stronger regulatory frameworks, investment in gas recovery infrastructure, and international cooperation are expected to intensify in the coming months.
