quadruple bypass
the west african gas pipeline
project
corporations:chevron [united
states], shell [united
kingdom/netherlands]
“We pray to God on this holy morn
that no petroleum oil will be discovered in
our communities. Indeed, Lord, let the oil
underneath our houses and farms drift away
from us. Lord, spare us the pains and the
misfortunes and diseases that petroleum oil
brings to our people and to our farms and
rivers. Lord, protect us from further harm
in the hands of those who want our
properties. Amen.”
Pastor before a Christian congregation in
Nigeria’s Niger Delta.
Smoke is from a three-week-old
pipeline fire. Existing oil pipelines,
which weave through villages, often catch
fire due to poor maintenance and
vandalism
The human and environmental devastation
caused by powerful multinational oil
corporations in the Niger Delta is no
secret. Communities living in poverty
coexist with one-story high furnace-like
gas flares, the equivalent of smokestacks
shooting out giant flames. Leaky and
exploding pipelines crisscross
neighborhoods. People deal with persistent
air and water pollution, along with
countless trucks and tankers. These
communities live with oily muck and
detrimental health effects, yet are subject
to frequent periods where no gas is
available due to the country’s lack of
refining capacity.
long in the
pipeline
The West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) had
its genesis 21 years ago when the Economic
Community of West African States proposed a
natural gas pipeline through West Africa as
one of its key economic policies. The World
Bank prepared a feasibility report 11 years
ago, and determined that a natural gas
pipeline originating in Nigeria, passing
through Benin and Togo, and ending in Ghana
would be commercially feasible. It is just
now with the project already underway,
however, that the consortium of oil
corporations and the World Bank have
decided to “consult” with the local
communities that will be impacted by this
620-mile long pipeline.
The four countries involved have already
signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement to
align their laws. The oil consortium –
composed of Chevron, Shell, the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation, the Ghana
National Petroleum Corporation, Societé
Beninoise de Gaz and Societé Togolaise de
Gaz – has had all of the agreements and
contracts signed, and is ready to complete
the project by 2005.
Neither the available information nor
meetings with the World Bank and Chevron
have answered questions about how the gas
will be used. The few communities that have
heard about the WAGP are under the
impression that the gas will be used
domestically, but it is alleged that the
endusers will be Ghanaian gold mining
corporations. The Bush administration has
touted the US$400 million WAGP as one of
the projects that will help West Africa to
become a major alternative source for oil
and gas to the volatile Middle East region
in the near future.
The WAGP has a myriad of issues. The
consortium companies have disturbing human
rights records, and project details are
shrouded in secrecy. In March 2000,
Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the
Earth Nigeria held a consultation with
communities, experts and media from
Nigeria, Ghana and Togo. Chevron and the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
were invited but did not attend.
environmental
impacts
According to World Bank 1995 figures,
Nigeria flares more gas than any other
country in the world. The gas flaring
causes acid rain, which contributes locally
to decreasing crop yields, corrodes
structures and has health effects including
respiratory problems. Globally, gas flaring
contributes to climate change due to the
carbon dioxide, methane and other
greenhouse gases that are emitted on a
continuous basis. The pipeline will also
traverse fragile wetlands and mangrove
ecosystems that will without doubt suffer
from the intrusion and impact people’s
livelihoods. These reasons are enough for
Friends of the Earth groups in Africa and
beyond to insist that the World Bank not
support this project until it addresses the
fears of local communities and potential
environmental devastation.
latest information
west
african pipeline dragged before nigerian
court
more information
:
Pipe Dreams, Friends of the Earth Nigeria,
Oilwatch and Friends of the Earth United
States: foe@foe.org
Friends of the Earth Nigeria:
www.eraction.org/
Oilwatch:
www.oilwatch.org
Bank Information Center:
www.bicusa.org/africa/pppwgap.htm
