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Seven countries, namely the United States, Russia, Iraq, Iran, Algeria, Venezuela and Nigeria, were the top countries flaring associated gas in 2020, for nine years running, according to World Bank’s 2020 Global Gas Flaring Tracker.

The seven countries produce approximately 40 per cent of the world’s oil each year. They also account for 65 per cent of global gas flaring.

According to the report, oil production declined by 8 per cent, from 82 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2019 to 76 million b/d in 2020, while global gas flaring reduced by 5 per cent from 150 billion cubic metres (bcm) to 142 bcm in the period.

Gas flaring, which the report defines as the burning of natural gas associated with oil extraction, is driven by market and economic constraints, and lack of appropriate regulation and political will to end it. The practice results in a range of pollutants released into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, methane and black carbon (soot).

According to the report, Nigeria achieved significant progress over the past 15 years, cutting its gas flaring by 70 per cent to just 7 bcm in 2020.