Doha • Qatar may soon join the Global Gas Flaring Reduction (GGFR) partnership, a World Bank-led initiative to reduce the burning of natural gas, or flaring.

"We expect Qatar and Kuwait to join us soon. We have been in talk with them and started to work with them," GCFR partnership Manager, Bent Svensson told a news conference here yesterday.

"Several countries like Qatar, Kuwait and others are more conscious of the importance of addressing environmental issues, and so we look forward to working with them and welcoming into the GGFR partnership."

A GGFR delegation is participating in the 13th Annual Middle East Gas Summit which opened here yesterday. It called on oil producing countries and companies in the Middle East to join worldwide efforts in reducing flaring.

In Qatar about three billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas are flared every year, according to Svensson citing estimates based on satellite observations. The GGFR partnership estimates that globally at least 150bcm of gas are flared or wasted every year, adding about 400 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in annual emissions.

Gas flaring in the Middle East and North Africa region is about 50bcm annually, which makes it the second flaring region in the world after Russia and the Caspian region (about 60bcm). Sub-Saharan Africa flares about 35bcm. The amount of gas flared in the Middle East alone with about 30bcm could feed a 20 million ton liquefied natural gas plant.

When crude oil is brought to the surface, gas associated with the oil comes to the surface as well. This associated gas is usually released into the atmosphere, ignited (flared or burned) or un-ignited (vented).

The burning of natural gas may be the safe and effective method of disposing of excess natural gas associated with oil production, but flaring also wastes a valuable clean energy resource and emits greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

Svensson said the contribution of the Middle East is fundamental in order to have a decisive global impact on flaring reduction and associated gas utilization over the long run.

He said Qatar for instance has the potential to monetize its currently flared associated gas. "All in all it is a win-win situation not only for the environment because it is commercially viable with additional supplies of made available that could be utilized as feedstock for desalination or petrochemical plants," Svensson said.

He said the gas may also be used at the installation as fuel for generators, transported via pipelines and sold or may be injected into the ground.

GGFR Adviser, Jean-Eric Molinard who also addressed the joint news conference, said it would not be difficult for Qatar to bring the level of gas flaring to nil given the gas infrastructure it has already possess.

Many countries face gas shortage and rather than flaring this associated gas could be utilized more rationally, said Svensson. "Each cubic meter of gas flared is a waste of resources that also generate two kilograms of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere," he said.

Gas flaring, he pointed out, requires a global and concerted effort by governments and industry, as well as financial institutions, energy utilities and local communities.