Sustainable Development and Gas Flaring Activities: a Case Study of Ebedei Area of Ukwuani LGA, Delta State, Nigeria

The impact of gas flaring on the sustainable development was examined. The presence crude oil and natural gas is expected to serve as socio-economic driver of accelerated sustainable development of an area but the situation of oil producing areas of Nigeria is a far cry from the expected. Data was collected from eight (8) experimental sites around the gas flaring station including Obiaruku (control site), which has no gas-flaring station. Temperature and concentrations of air quality indices were determined. The temperature and air quality measurements in Ebedei were made, at least, 50 meters away from the bund wall of the flare. The data were analysed using the Multiple Regression and bivariate correlation. Results revealed that there is a significant relationship between ambient temperature and the gases (CO, NO2, SO4 and CH4) flared in Ebedei at F value of 20.069 which is greater than the critical value of 9.12. An increase in flared gases results to a corresponding increase in temperature. Strong negative relationship exists between distance from the bund wall of the flare and temperature at r=0.855. Recommendations: (FEPA) should constantly monitor and evaluate the level of damages done by gas flaring to ensure compliance and sustainability of the environment.