• Gas Flaring ends 2010
The Senate has passed the much-expected Gas Flaring Bill which seeks to stop gas flaring by the oil and gas companies by the end of next year.
The passage however comes less than 2hn hours after the same legislature allows the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to pass the mandatory second reading
The PIB, when passed is expected to repeal at least 20 existing petroleum industry related Acts; a development which made some Senatiors to oppose the new gas flaring bill.
Leading the pack of those who want the PIB to incorporate the gas flare bill is Senators Nimi Barigha-Amange (PDP, Bayelsa East) and Heineken Lokpobiri (PDP, Bayelsa West), who argued that said the Gas Flaring (Prohibition and Punishment) Bill should be harmonised with the PIB.
But majority of the Senators argued that debate on the gas flaring bill should be concluded and the bill passed because according o them the gas bill has advanced to the third and final reading stage.
While supporting those who argued that the gas flaring bill should scale through, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, said: “it would have been easier for the Petroleum Industry bill to have been stopped on Wednesday before scaling second reading, than stop the Gas Flaring Prohibition bill, which is being considered for third reading.”
While supporting those who argued that the gas flaring bill should scale through, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, said: “it would have been easier for the Petroleum Industry bill to have been stopped on Wednesday before scaling second reading, than stop the Gas Flaring Prohibition bill, which is being considered for third reading.”
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