Germany joined the international initiative against the routine flaring of gas at oil production sites today. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the initiative last April in cooperation with the World Bank. It aims at phasing out the routine flaring of associated gas at oil production sites by 2030 at the latest. At present, routine flaring results in around 300 million tonnes of CO2 per year. This way important primary energy sources are wasted without any utilization.
Federal Environment Minister Hendricks said: "We want to achieve a pioneering climate agreement in Paris. Our endorsement of the World Bank's initiative is to testify once again to our commitment in this direction."
According to World Bank estimates the Russian Federation, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq and the US are among the greatest emitters due to flaring, in some cases even with an upward tendency.
Environment Minister Hendricks called for incentives to avoid flaring: "We advocate proven CO2 emission reductions due to avoiding flaring being promoted by crediting them - in conformity with EU legislation - to the legally prescribed CO2 reductions for fuels."
As there is now hardly any gas flaring taking place in Germany, such an approach would especially be aimed at oil production sites in third countries. At present, the Federal Environment Ministry is developing provisions to this effect in close cooperation with the Federal Economic Affairs Ministry and the Federal Development Ministry.
The "Zero Routine Flaring by 2030" initiative is being endorsed so far by 12 countries (including France, the Netherlands and Norway) plus oil companies and intergovernmental organisations.