07LAGOS239
WikiLeaks Cable
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin 07LAGOS239 2007-03-30 14:08 2011-04-18 20:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Lagos
VZCZCXRO0271 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHOS #0239/01 0891408 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 301408Z MAR 07 FM AMCONSUL LAGOS TO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 8536 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8709 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0092 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0251 RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0231 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0230 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 0232 RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH AFB UK RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000239
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/IHA DANO WILUSZ DOE FOR GPERSON, CAROLYN GAY TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR FLISER STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AID EPA SENV TBIO AL AM BK CB CD CM CS CV EK, ES, FJ, GG, HA, HO, IN, KE, KR SUBJECT: IMPROVING U.S. DIPLOMACY ON INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
REF: STATE 192919
LAGOS 00000239 001.2 OF 002
¶1. This is a response to an action request or details on
Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) in Nigeria. A septel will be sent
assessing the GON's awareness of and commitment to reduce
IAP. According to Ministry of Petroleum Resources, household
kerosene is used 99 percent of the time as an energy source
in Nigeria; kerosene and wood are the most common cooking
fuels. Residential demand provides approximately 50 percent
of the world's liquefied petroleum (LP) gas demand. However,
Nigerian LP gas consumption has averaged around 60,000 tons
annually over the past decade; quite low by world standards.
Delta State Is A Member Under The PCIA
¶2. Delta State, located in the oil producing Niger Delta, is a member of Project Gaia, under the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air (PCIA). Neighboring Bayelsa state is not a Project Gaia partner, but is interested in importing methanol stoves and fuel for indoor cooking.
Methanol Stoves: Public-Private Collaboration
¶3. The Delta State Ministry of Power and Energy, in partnership with Project Gaia under the PCIA began a pilot project in November 2006 to test the demand for methanol stoves in high, medium, and low income households in Delta State. Following the initial positive feedback and interest in methanol as a cooking fuel, USAID has begun facilitating stakeholder meetings with Delta and Bayelsa state governments, oil companies, methanol plant construction companies, and stove manufacturers to discuss and possibly move forward with the production and use of methanol plants and cooking stoves.
¶4. The stakeholders agree methanol would increase communities' access to affordable energy as well as reduce gas flaring by oil companies and indoor pollution. Methanol is approximately 15-30 cents per liter less expensive than kerosene. With coordinated public information and proper training in the use and storage of methanol and methanol stoves, the project is expected to improve some 200,000 rural families' (approximately 1 million people) access to clean, effective cooking fuel and electrification. (Note: There is no quantifiable data available on IAP in Nigeria at this time. End Note.)
¶5. To relieve both indoor and outdoor air pollution, the Government of Nigeria is making efforts to promote the production and supply of liquefied petroleum gas (propane) in Nigeria, which is expected to offset emissions from burning wood, charcoal, kerosene and dried dung. A worst-case scenario of wood use conducted by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources predicted emissions of approximately 44,460 megatons a year of particulate matter and 4,323 megatons a year of oxides of nitrogen from burning wood in ¶2010.
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Needed: Increased Public and Government Awareness
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LAGOS 00000239 002.2 OF 002
¶6. The GON and Nigerian public need to better understand and be aware of indoor air pollution before it can be tackled. Presenting IAP to the federal and state governments would be a first step in improving indoor air quality. Public awareness campaigns are needed to highlight the dangers of IAP. Projects such as Gaia could be presented to other states, particularly in oil producing areas, which could benefit both from reduced gas flaring and creation of a new energy market. (Note: The GON will undergo its first transition from one democratically elected government to another in May 2007; approaching the federal and state government of Nigeria would be most advantageous once the new administrations have settled in. End Note.)
BROWNE