Middle East war spurs emissions from oil and gas sites, satellites show

The emissions open a new window into the conflict’s growing carbon footprint. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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DUBAI – The conflict in the Middle East appears to have forced some oil and gas companies to directly burn off more natural gas than usual as their facilities have come under attack or exports have been blocked, releasing planet-warming pollution. 

An increase in emissions is a relatively minor issue against the loss of life and economic chaos wrought by the war, yet it shows one of many unanticipated consequences from the fighting.

Before the war, efforts to cut down on excess flaring had become a focus for investors keen to rein in waste and greenhouse gases. 

From Feb 28 to March 22, the United Arab Emirates’ Das Island liquefied natural gas plant flared enough to add the equivalent of about 74,100 metric tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, according to analysis by investigative consultancy Data Desk and Bloomberg calculations.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s Ras Laffan facility, the world’s largest LNG export hub, added roughly 101,300 tons of CO2 equivalent, on par with the annual emissions from more than 20,000 cars.