MAKING NATURAL GAS THE PREFERRED FUEL OF CHOICE
1.
INTRODUCTION
Fig. 10. Greenhouse gas emission of CO2 by fossil fuels (CONCAWE et al., 2007)
Natural
gas, whose main component is methane (CH4), is a reliable source of
energy in the world today. Its usage has steadily grown over the years as the
globe has been in a pursuit of low-carbon energy sources and reducing
greenhouse gas (GNG) emissions as the highest contributor to GNG emission is
the energy sector. Since the 20th century, fossil fuels have been
used as energy sources in the industrial sector, electricity generation,
heating etc. As awareness about pollution and global warming grew, there was a
need to find an alternative fuel source with low carbon emission in which
natural gas became a reliable option. Since its inception, several world
organisations have canvassed for its replacement of fossil fuels such as coal
and crude oil. IFRI/CIEP (2015) states that climate change policies in line
with the objective of transitioning to a lower-carbon world are progressively
gaining support amongst policy makers worldwide. IEA (2014) states that natural
gas constitutes 21%of the total primary energy mix in 2012 as shown in Fig. 1. Leading
in the usage of natural gas as a primary energy source are Europe and Eurasia
(1003.5 Bcm) and North America (963.6 Bcm). Natural gas is being promoted as a
reliable replacement because of its lower sulphur oxide (SO2),
nitrogen oxides (NOX), particulate matter and carbon dioxide &
GNG emissions.
Fig. 1.
Global Primary Energy Mix (BP
Statistical review, 2016)
Presently
in the world today, BP (2016) states that the total gas reserves in the world
stands at 6599.4 trillion cubic feet (Tcm) of which the highest amount is in
Middle East as shown in Fig. 1. Also, the amount of natural gas produced in the
world stands at 3538.6 Bcm with the highest production in the Middle East
(617.9 Bcm).
Fig. 2.
Natural Gas Reserves in the World (BP
Statistical review, 2016)
The
natural gas consumption in the world stands at 3468 Bcm with Africa
significantly being the lowest consumer (135.5 Bcm).
Fig. 3.
Global Natural Gas Consumption (BP
Statistical review, 2016)
Africa’s
gas reserves are 496.7 Tcm and Nigeria has 180.5 Tcm of it which is 36.33% of
the total reserves in the continent as shown in Fig. 2. As such, Nigeria can be
described as a country with pockets of crude oil in a large reservoir of
natural gas as the country possesses 37.1 billion barrels of crude oil (BP,
2016). Natural gas finds its main uses in heating, industrial sector and
electricity generation.
Fig. 4.
Natural Gas Reserves in Africa (BP
Statistical review, 2016)
In
Nigeria today, there has to be an enormous support for the use of natural gas
as a main component of our energy mix. This is of utmost importance because
natural gas is too important a primary energy source to be flared and wasted as
it is in the country. Despite the numerous benefits that can be harnessed from
the use of natural gas as a main source of primary energy in Nigeria, the
country still flares 289,600 Bscf out of 2,524,268 Bscf gas produced and
utilized 2,234,668 Bscf of natural gas in 2014 (NNPC Statistical Bulletin,
2014). A detailed amount of gas produced and flared by different oil companies
in Nigeria in 2014 is shown in Fig. 3 below.
Fig. 5.
Offshore Gas Flare site (Elvidge et al.,
2009)
In
a bid to making natural gas the preferred fuel of choice in Nigeria, the
problem of gas flaring must be tackled by the government and private sector in
the industry so as to ensure that the flared is converted to usable energy
source that can be engrafted in the country’s energy mix. In this context, the
work of the previous administration cannot be jettisoned as the amount of gas
flared in the country was reduced in line with an increase in gas consumption
in Fig. 7 but more work has to be done as a sustainable framework must be
developed and implemented in order to bring gas flaring to its barest minimum.
Fig. 6.
Gas consumption in Nigeria from 2004 to 2014 (NNPC Statistical bulletin, 2014)
Fig. 7.
Gas Produced and Flared in Nigeria in
2014 (NNPC Statistical bulletin, 2014)
WHY USE NATURAL GAS AS FUEL
The
usage of natural gas as a source of fuel in Nigeria has been a topic of
interest in the past decades. As the world targets a low-carbon world and a
reduction in GNG emission, many countries have tried to cut down their use of
high carbon content fuels. There has been a renewed pursuit of renewables and
other fuel sources that do not promote global warming. Considering the fact
that the country has an enormous amount of natural gas reserves, coupled with
its low-carbon content, it is necessary that it becomes the preferred choice of
fuel in the country.
Different
global bodies such as the United Nations (UN) and the World Bank, governments
of various nations have tried finding sustainable solution to the problem of climate
change. The latest agreement which was signed by 191 countries is the Paris
Agreement which seeks to address the challenges of climate change. The United
Nations announced the date for entry into force of this global agreement after
11 countries and the European Union submitted their instruments of
ratification, crossing the threshold of 55% of the total global emission share
mark (m.timesofindia.com/home/environment). Inclusive among the nations that
signed this agreement is Nigeria as such, natural gas should be aggressively
promoted as the fuel of choice within the country due to its low carbon and GNG
emissions as the other fuels currently used in the country are more polluting
than the former.
The
Nigerian Gas Master Plan has three key strategies which are stimulating the
multiplier effect of gas in the domestic economy, positioning Nigeria
competitively in high value export markets and guarantying the long term energy
security of Nigeria. A careful observation of the state of the economy of the
nation presently will reveal that natural gas is not playing its role as
anticipated by the NGMP in the diversification of the Nigerian economy. Crude
oil (petroleum) still remains the main source of fuel within the country. This
is evident as the nation almost witnessed an economic shut down when petroleum
products were in low supply during the 2nd quarter of the year,
2016. The main project that fosters natural gas as fuel in Nigeria presently is
Green Gas Limited which is a public-private partnership that focuses on
developing natural gas infrastructure in Nigeria. GGL developed CNG stations,
state of art conversion workshops and pipeline networks throughout Benin City,
Nigeria (www.greengaslimited.com/?p=1203).
Fig. 8. Compressed
Natural Gas (CNG) station in Benin City, Nigeria (www.greengaslimited.com)
Source:
Natural gas is cleaner fuel compared to crude oil, coal, firewood and other
fuel sources in Nigeria. This is as a result of its low CO2 and GNG
emissions. IFRI/CIEP (2015) states that natural gas emits lower sulphur oxide
(SO2) responsible for acid rain, lower nitrogen oxides (NOX)
responsible for urban smog, lower particulate matter responsible for health and
visibility problems and lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
responsible together with other greenhouse gases for climate change. Natural
gas usage can result in improved air quality as smog and particulates are less produced.
Energy
efficiency, cost-effectiveness and conservation are one of the strongholds of
natural gas when compared to other fossil fuels. Research has shown that the
amount of energy produced per CO2 emitted is higher than other
fossil fuels such as crude oil and coal. Advancements in technology such as
Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGT) has achieved higher thermal efficiencies of
60% while Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants attained thermal efficiencies of
80%. Significantly, the amount of CO2 emitted in Combined Cycle Gas
Turbines is half the amount compared to coal driven engines. (World Energy
Council, 2013) states that proven high efficiency appliances that already exist
for natural gas could serve as a springboard for further growth despite some
global economic uncertainty in the manufacturing sector.
ADVANTAGES OF NATURAL GAS OVER
OTHER FOSSIL FUELS
Natural
gas as compared to other fossil fuels is cleaner and environmentally friendly,
more efficient and conservative and critically needed in the development of the
nations power infrastructure. It is an energy source that must be properly
utilized if Nigeria is to attain energy security. Natural gas has a number of
merits over other fossil fuels, they are highlighted below:
1.) Natural gas is abundant:
Nigeria possesses 36.33% of the total natural gas reserves in Africa as BP
(2016) states that Nigerian natural gas reserves is 180.5 trillion cubic metres
(Tcm) out of Africa’s 496.7 Tcm of natural gas reserves. As earlier stated,
Nigeria as a country holds a large natural gas reserve with pockets crude oil
in it. Therefore, it is of paramount necessity that the country focuses on the
exploration and utilization of this abundant resource because if effectively
and efficiently harnessed can ensure energy security in the country.
2.)
Natural
gas is a cost effective fuel: The economic strength
of natural gas is evident in power generation. For example, combined-cycle
natural gas plants are less expensive than coal plant as it takes less capital
to generate 1 megawatt in natural gas plants. A recent study commissioned by the UK’s Department of Energy &
Climate Change (DECC) investigated the levelised cost of electricity generation
for various technologies (cost per kilowatt-hour generated over the lifetime of
a power plant). Recognising the uncertainty in estimating cost data over the
next 20 to 30 years,
the study found that combined-cycle gas plants result in both lower capital expenditure and lower total levelised costs. Gas prices would have to exceed the DECC’s high-end scenario for combined-cycle gas plants to lose their cost advantage (MacDonald, 2010). Also, the duration of natural gas plants is lower as compared to coal plants. The former takes 20 to 30 months to construct while the latter takes 40 to 50 months of construction.
the study found that combined-cycle gas plants result in both lower capital expenditure and lower total levelised costs. Gas prices would have to exceed the DECC’s high-end scenario for combined-cycle gas plants to lose their cost advantage (MacDonald, 2010). Also, the duration of natural gas plants is lower as compared to coal plants. The former takes 20 to 30 months to construct while the latter takes 40 to 50 months of construction.
3.) Natural gas is an
environmentally friendly fuel: Natural gas burns in
air in a non-sooty flame to produce water and carbon dioxide (CO2).
Its combustion yields less CO2 due to 1:4 carbon to hydrogen ratio
of its hydrocarbon structure. Natural gas is a viable option to secure significant
air improvements in Nigeria. As shown in Fig. the amount pollutants such as NOX,
fine dust and CO2 released into the atmosphere is lower during
natural gas during combustion compared to diesel and petrol which are main fuel
source in Nigeria.
Fig.
9. Amount
of pollutant emissions by different fuels (CROB (Coalition Driving on Biogas) Netherlands, 2010)
A
detailed comparison of the amount of CO2 emitted by fossil fuels is shown in Fig. it is evident that fossil
fuel sources currently used in Nigeria, natural gas emits the least amount of
CO2. Therefore, if the country is to join other parts of the world to pursue a
greener economy and countdown on GNG emissions, natural gas must be the
preferred fuel of choice. Public and private organisations must ensure that
natural gas usage as a replacement for other fossil fuels must be promoted in
the country.
Fig. 10. Greenhouse gas emission of CO2 by fossil fuels (CONCAWE et al., 2007)
REFERENCES
NNPC (2014). Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. “2014 Annual
Statistical Bulletin”.
Corporate Planning and Strategy Division, NNPC.
Corporate Planning and Strategy Division, NNPC.
BP
(2016). Statistical Review of World Energy.
IEA
(2014). Key World Energy Statistics.
CONCAWE et al., 2007. Well-to-wheel analysis
of future automotive fuels and
powertrains in the European context.
powertrains in the European context.
CROB
(Coalition Driving on Biogas), 2010. Natural gas, part of an efficient
sustainable energy future, Gasunie.
IFRI/CIEP
(2015). Is Natural Gas Green Enough for the environmental Energy Policies,
2012-2015 Triennium Work Reports.
http://m.timesofindia.com/home/environment.
Accessed 07-10-2016
http://www.greengaslimited.com/?p=1203.
Accessed 07-10-2016
Mott
MacDonald (2010). UK Electricity Generation Costs Update.
World
Energy Council (2013). World Energy Reserves, 2013 Survey.
Christopher D. Elvidge, Daniel Ziskin ,
Kimberly E. Baugh , Benjamin T. Tuttle, Tilottama Ghosh, Dee W. Pack , Edward H.
Erwin and Mikhail Zhizhin (2009). A Fifteen Year Record of Global Natural Gas
Flaring Derived
from Satellite Data. Energies 2009, 2, 595-622; doi:10.3390/en20300595.
from Satellite Data. Energies 2009, 2, 595-622; doi:10.3390/en20300595.
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