432
P. R. Gatkuoth
flora and fauna, temperature, oxygen for the sustenance of life on the
life-supporting planet. Oil exploration and production involve various
chemical and seismic wave generation is a major source of environmental
degradation, particularly through liquid discharges and oil spills as well
as gas flaring.
Petroleum renders the soil infertile, burns vegetation and kills
useful soil microorganisms, thereby hampering agricultural productivity.
6 Accordingly, before mineral/fossil fuel resources are harnessed,
they pass through the stages of exploration, mining and processing.
Different types of environmental damages and hazards inevitably accompany these three stages of mineral development. Oil spills (either in
crude or refined form), natural gas flaring and deforestation which are
highly associated with oil extraction are common phenomena in the oil
communities and have caused severe environmental degradation in the
oil-producing enclaves. This is because they contaminate the environment, cause water and land pollution with grave consequences on both
human and natural environment due to the toxic nature of the chemical
discharged as it is in the case of the Niger Delta in Nigeria.
7
Taking stock of the above, we note that petroleum resources besides
negatively impacting on the environment, they have also been characterized with political unrest hence being a curse to some developing
countries. Nevertheless, developed countries such as Norway have highly
benefited from the sector, but this is no guarantee that developing countries will experience the same blessing. By the end of the 1960s, Norway
was the poorest country in Scandinavia, this however changed by the end
of 1990 when the country, after discovering oil, became the wealthiest in
the region.
8
Moving forward, we note that the presence of oil infrastructure per se
is known to lead to a wide range of environmental impacts. Oil spilled
6 Monitor, Fiscal, and Regional Economic Outlook. “How Oil, Gas, and Mining Projects Can
Contribute to Development,” Finance & Development (2000).
7 Cave F.0 and McDonald J. D., Birds of Sudan (1958).
8 McKenzie, L. M.; Guo, R.; Witter, R. Z.; Savitz, D. A.; Newman, L. S.; and Adgate, J. L.,
Birth Outcomes and Maternal Residential Proximity to Natural Gas Development in Rural
Colorado, Colorado: National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS), 2014.
P. R. Gatkuoth
flora and fauna, temperature, oxygen for the sustenance of life on the
life-supporting planet. Oil exploration and production involve various
chemical and seismic wave generation is a major source of environmental
degradation, particularly through liquid discharges and oil spills as well
as gas flaring.
Petroleum renders the soil infertile, burns vegetation and kills
useful soil microorganisms, thereby hampering agricultural productivity.
6 Accordingly, before mineral/fossil fuel resources are harnessed,
they pass through the stages of exploration, mining and processing.
Different types of environmental damages and hazards inevitably accompany these three stages of mineral development. Oil spills (either in
crude or refined form), natural gas flaring and deforestation which are
highly associated with oil extraction are common phenomena in the oil
communities and have caused severe environmental degradation in the
oil-producing enclaves. This is because they contaminate the environment, cause water and land pollution with grave consequences on both
human and natural environment due to the toxic nature of the chemical
discharged as it is in the case of the Niger Delta in Nigeria.
7
Taking stock of the above, we note that petroleum resources besides
negatively impacting on the environment, they have also been characterized with political unrest hence being a curse to some developing
countries. Nevertheless, developed countries such as Norway have highly
benefited from the sector, but this is no guarantee that developing countries will experience the same blessing. By the end of the 1960s, Norway
was the poorest country in Scandinavia, this however changed by the end
of 1990 when the country, after discovering oil, became the wealthiest in
the region.
8
Moving forward, we note that the presence of oil infrastructure per se
is known to lead to a wide range of environmental impacts. Oil spilled
6 Monitor, Fiscal, and Regional Economic Outlook. “How Oil, Gas, and Mining Projects Can
Contribute to Development,” Finance & Development (2000).
7 Cave F.0 and McDonald J. D., Birds of Sudan (1958).
8 McKenzie, L. M.; Guo, R.; Witter, R. Z.; Savitz, D. A.; Newman, L. S.; and Adgate, J. L.,
Birth Outcomes and Maternal Residential Proximity to Natural Gas Development in Rural
Colorado, Colorado: National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS), 2014.