434
P. R. Gatkuoth
oil fields daily which pose a threat to the life since apparently there is no
effective treatment at the site.
12
Another thing that was discovered in South Sudan is that, oil is
always pumped together with water. There are big volumes of produced
water stagnant in ponds with apparently inadequate treatment such
as skimming which is less effective. The discharge of produced water
causes serious environmental risks to both the human and the natural
environment.
• Effect on the Air Quality
Just like in Nigeria, gas flaring is common in South Sudan. Basically,
gas flaring is the process of separating and burning of the gas produced
during oil resources extraction from the ground. In countries like the
Republic of South Sudan that lacks the technological advancement to tap
the product gas, gas is instead flared hence polluting the air and general
environment. Gas flaring without temperature or emissions control
pollutes the air and releases unacceptably high levels of carbon dioxide
into the atmosphere. For example, in the Niger Delta, an independent
study has revealed that 75% of gas is being flared and contributes to
air pollution, the situation is similar in South Sudan though at a lower
percentage.
• Effect on the Surface Water Quality
Oil production has a significant impact on the landscape and the local
environment. Contamination of soil and water is a major common
consequence of oil production, particularly in areas with non-existence
or insufficient environmental regulation.
13 Groundwater is particularly susceptible to high contamination from the produced water and
12 Patey, Luke. “A Belated Boom: Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, and Prospects and Risks for
Oil in East Africa” (2017).
13 el Moghraby, A. I., The Jonglei Canal—A Needed Development or Potential Ecodisaster?
Environmental Conservation, 9 (2), 141–148, 1982.
P. R. Gatkuoth
oil fields daily which pose a threat to the life since apparently there is no
effective treatment at the site.
12
Another thing that was discovered in South Sudan is that, oil is
always pumped together with water. There are big volumes of produced
water stagnant in ponds with apparently inadequate treatment such
as skimming which is less effective. The discharge of produced water
causes serious environmental risks to both the human and the natural
environment.
• Effect on the Air Quality
Just like in Nigeria, gas flaring is common in South Sudan. Basically,
gas flaring is the process of separating and burning of the gas produced
during oil resources extraction from the ground. In countries like the
Republic of South Sudan that lacks the technological advancement to tap
the product gas, gas is instead flared hence polluting the air and general
environment. Gas flaring without temperature or emissions control
pollutes the air and releases unacceptably high levels of carbon dioxide
into the atmosphere. For example, in the Niger Delta, an independent
study has revealed that 75% of gas is being flared and contributes to
air pollution, the situation is similar in South Sudan though at a lower
percentage.
• Effect on the Surface Water Quality
Oil production has a significant impact on the landscape and the local
environment. Contamination of soil and water is a major common
consequence of oil production, particularly in areas with non-existence
or insufficient environmental regulation.
13 Groundwater is particularly susceptible to high contamination from the produced water and
12 Patey, Luke. “A Belated Boom: Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, and Prospects and Risks for
Oil in East Africa” (2017).
13 el Moghraby, A. I., The Jonglei Canal—A Needed Development or Potential Ecodisaster?
Environmental Conservation, 9 (2), 141–148, 1982.