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Anti Fracking Efforts in Algeria
The Algerian government introduced hydraulic fracking in Ayn Saleh, Algeria. The purpose was to extract shale gas from these deserts. Mohad Gasmi led the demonstration against fracking. Soon, all provinces near the fracking site organized protests. 5 months of continuous protests carried on, and in result, fracking operations has been suspended in Ayn Saleh. Fracking is the process of fresh drinkable water, chemicals and sand into deposits underground. This process causes the rock to break. The problem of fracking is that as the pressure breaks through the rock, it can pollute existing underground water pockets. Polluting all the water supply.
The first wells were drilled in 2011 in the Ahnet basin near Tamanrasset, this is such a controversial process due to the enormous amounts of water and toxic chemicals that fracking uses. This is really dangerous since these toxic chemicals could leak into the aquifer reserves and completely destroy the water supply of millions of people in an already water-scarce country.
Recently Algerian hydrocarbon company, Sonatrach got in contact with multinacionales like Shell, ENI and Talisman to tap into the country’s shale gas reserves that will then supply the European market. It is very simple for an institution to just start using the shale gas again due to the government’s Hydrocarbon Law which opens the way for foreign companies to invest in this sector.
Oil and gas are the backbone of the country’s finances which is 62% of the government’s income and 97% of export earnings.
There hasn’t been much done in order to clean up the pollution that was caused due to the oil production in Nigeria, either by the government or Shell Oil. This oil production in Nigeria has contaminated the drinking water of at least 10 communities, even though all this communities were affected there wasn’t much done by the government in Nigeria.
The organization Involved is called Mohad Gasm.
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1 Comment(s)
Excellent write up Sofia, the case in Algeria and other places in Africa are excellent examples of environmental colonialism. Oil spillage has destroyed many communities' sources of livelihood in Nigeria and other parts of Africa and not much is being done in terms of clean up by either the companies responsible for the spill or the government. Gratefully, all these issues are coming to limelight as people get more informed and positive changes are taking place. And at our own level, as we get more informed, we can also get more involved in the fight to preserve the environment and its finite and vulnerable resources. It is our collective responsibility to speak out.
The negative impacts of fracking can not be overestimated. One of its most serious threats is the contamination of underground water formation which is the source of domestic water for many rural communities. Also the amount of water used in fracking operation is massive and since fresh water is finite, great care must be exercised in its usage, Gratefully, there are recent talks around efficient recycling of waste water from fracking process, but it is heavily dependent on cost, recent technological advancement is however bringing down the cost of waste water recycle.
Great insights Sofia! You surely have an understanding of the issues being explored.
Any proposal that you think might bring positive change? Please share!
Great illustrative pictures, thanks for sharing
Keep up the green initiatives....:)
Sandra Ukaigwe
Oct 24, 2017