This investigation was prepared by Hala Nouhad Nasreddine and supported by the Journalismfund Europe
Despite its efforts to position itself as a leader in combating climate change and promoting renewable and sustainable energy, Qatar has the highest per capita carbon dioxide emissions in the world, according to Statista, followed by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait.
Qatar has initiated several environmental projects, including planting one million trees to improve air quality and reduce its carbon footprint, as well as organizing the first carbon-neutral World Cup in 2022 with solar-powered stadiums. Additionally, Qatar is making significant investments in solar energy and aims to generate 20% of its energy from solar power by 2030.
Despite this, Qatar is not a signatory to the World Bank’s initiative to eliminate routine flaring, and flaring levels (methane and carbon dioxide emissions) remain high. While the government-owned company Qatar Energy has signed the World Bank initiative, Qatar has not seen a significant reduction in flaring levels between 2012 and 2022.
Oman, on the other hand, is a signatory to the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring (ZRF) initiative, which commits to ending routine flaring by 2030. However, its flaring volume did not decrease between 2012 and 2022; instead, it slightly increased.
This investigation examines the total gas flaring in the countries of Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman. It is part of a series of investigative reports within the cross-border “Burning Skies” project on gas flaring, led by the European Investigative Collaborations (EIC), in cooperation with the Environmental Investigative Forum (EIF) and several media platforms, including Daraj.
The project examines gas flaring emissions in 18 countries across Africa and the Middle East. The team has combined gas flaring emission data from Skytruth with maps of oil and gas concessions and permits to calculate annual flaring emissions for various sites—including oil fields, gas fields, refineries, and liquefied natural gas plants—in several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Sultanate of Oman, from 2012 to 2022.
Gas flaring is the process of burning natural gas associated with oil extraction. Flaring and venting waste a valuable natural resource that should be used for productive purposes, such as power generation, or conserved. For example, the current amount of gas flared annually, about 148 billion cubic meters, could provide energy for all Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the World Bank.
Qatar: A Promise of Change, But Progress Lags Behind!
The project data indicates that total flaring in Qatar decreased by about 15.7% between 2012 and 2022. However, the volume remained high in 2022, with 1.64 billion cubic meters of methane flared, resulting in 4.2 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In addition, efforts to reduce flaring appear to have slowed in recent years, with only a slight decline in flaring from 1.68 billion cubic meters in 2020 to 2022.
It is important to note that the two largest contributors to flaring in Qatar, according to the data, are:
QatarEnergy:
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 11.1 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 28.8 million tons
TotalEnergies:
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 1.8 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 4.8 million tons
In this context, the data also reveals that emissions from the Al Shaheen Oil Field, where TotalEnergies holds a 30% stake, increased by 16.5% in 2022, reaching approximately 866,000 tons of CO2, compared to around 743,000 tons in 2021.
QatarEnergy and the Discrepancy in the Numbers?
QatarEnergy, formerly known as Qatar Petroleum, is the state-owned oil company of Qatar. The company manages all oil and gas activities in Qatar, including exploration, production, refining, transportation and storage.
The project estimates, based on satellite imagery, that the volume of flaring at QatarEnergy sites ranges from 10.6 to 11.1 billion cubic meters, resulting in the emission of approximately 27.4 to 28.8 million tons of carbon dioxide in Qatar from 2012 to 2022.
QatarEnergy is a signatory to the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring Initiative, which commits to ending routine flaring by 2030.
The company’s flaring volume has slightly decreased from around 1.2 billion cubic meters in 2012 to around 1 billion cubic meters in 2022, with carbon dioxide emissions of about 3.2 million tons in 2012 and 2.3-2.6 million tons in 2022.
Qatar Energy has committed to the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative, which aims to end routine flaring of associated gas during oil production. This commitment is part of QatarEnergy’s broader sustainability strategy, which includes reducing the emissions intensity of Qatar’s LNG facilities by 25% and upstream facilities by at least 15% by 2035, according to the Qatar News Agency.
QatarEnergy’s updated sustainability strategy, announced in March 2022, includes several initiatives aimed at reducing the carbon intensity of Qatar’s LNG facilities by 35% and of upstream facilities by 25% by 2035.
QatarEnergy’s website states, “In 2019, Qatar Petroleum achieved 68 percent reduction compared to 2012 when Qatar Petroleum first started its Flare reduction program. The ongoing flare reduction initiative has further contributed to a 7.5 percent reduction in GHG emissions in 2019 and Qatar Petroleum achieved a 72 percent reduction in methane emissions from flaring compared to the same period in 2012.”
The project data indicates that QatarEnergy’s flaring level decreased from 1.27 in 2012 to 1.01 in 2022, representing a reduction of approximately 20.47%. Similarly, the percentage decrease in QatarEnergy’s carbon dioxide emissions—from 3.28 million tons in 2012 to 2.62 million tons in 2022—amounts to about 20.12%.
It should be noted that ‘In 2014, QatarEnergy commissioned the Jetty Boil-off Gas (JBOG) facility to recover boil-off gas during liquefied natural gas (LNG) loading operations. The JBOG facility is the world’s largest jetty boil-off gas recovery facility. This facility involved investments totaling approximately USD 1 billion and recovers more than 90% of the boil-off gas that was flared before its commissioning. The annual net CO2 abatement from the project is around 1.6 million tons, equivalent to removing 175,000 cars from the road in a year. Since its inception, the JBOG facility has recovered approximately 4 million tons of gas,” according to the World Bank website.
Neither the Qatari government nor QatarEnergy provided responses to the project team’s inquiries.
Qatari Laws
Gas flaring is regulated under the Environmental Protection Law, Law No. 30 of 2002, which states that emissions must comply with established limits. These limits are outlined in Appendix 3 of Resolution No. 4 of 2005, issued by the Chairman of the Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Reserves (SCENR), which establishes the Executive Regulations of Law No. 30 of 2002 on Environmental Protection.
However, Appendix 3 does not contain a section regulating offshore gas flaring (only onshore), meaning that offshore gas flaring by gas field operators is not regulated, and there is no limit set by the Government of Qatar.
| Law No. 30 of 2002 Promulgating the Law of Environment Protection Article 33: The smoke, gas and vapors emanating from the burning of any type of fuel or any other substance, whether in industry, energy generating constructions, or any other commercial purpose, shall be within the permissible limits. The person in charge of such activity shall take all the necessary safeguards to minimise the quantity of pollutants in the combustion emissions. The Executive Regulation shall determine the safeguards, permissible limits and specifications of chimneys, and any other smoke, gases and vapour controllers emanating from the combustion.Resolution of the Chairman of the Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Reserves No. (4) of 2005 issuing the executive regulations of the Environmental Protection Law issued by Decree-Law No. (30) of 2002Protection of the air from pollution Article 64: When burning any kind of fuel or other material for industrial, power generation, construction, or any other purpose, the competent authorities, depending on the nature of their activity, must ensure that the resulting smoke, gases, and harmful vapors are within the permissible limits indicated in Appendix No. (3) attached to these regulations. The person in charge of this activity is required to follow the following procedures in order to minimize the quantity of pollutants released in the combustion products mentioned:1- The suitable fuel must be chosen, and stoves, boilers, ovens, chimneys, and so on must be properly designed, with highly efficient control mechanisms applied.2- Open burning that does not have proper designs to ensure complete combustion should be avoided. Exhausts must be disposed of through chimneys according to the appropriate engineering specifications, and in accordance with the nature of each project.3- Commitment that the design of stoves, boilers, ovens, etc. shall be such that it creates a complete mixing of the amount of air sufficient for complete combustion and temperature distribution and provides sufficient time and stirring that ensures complete combustion to ensure reducing the emission of incomplete combustion products, taking into account that the emitted pollutants do not exceed the maximum permissible emission limits, shown in Appendix No. (3) attached to these regulations.4- Avoid utilizing diesel, other heavy petroleum products, and crude oil in residential areas.5- It is necessary that gases containing Sulphur dioxide be released through chimneys high enough so that their concentration is diluted before they reach the surface of the earth. Or that the use of fuel containing high levels of Sulphur in power plants, industries, etc. be in areas far from urban areas, taking into account weather factors and sufficient distances to prevent them from reaching residential and agricultural areas and waterways.6- Adherence to the maximum permissible emission limits from fuel combustion sources, whether for smoke (burners), dust, volatile particles, Sulphur dioxide, or total organic carbon materials, in accordance with the limits set forth in Appendix No. (3) referred to.7- The height of chimneys for industrial facilities must be sufficient to discharge air pollutants to the outside, not exceeding the maximum permissible emission limits set forth in Appendix No. (3) referred to.8- The height of chimneys serving public places, such as offices, restaurants, hotels and other commercial purposes, must not be less than 3 meters from the top edge of the building, while working to increase the speed of gas leakage from the chimney. |
Oman’s Environmental Efforts: A Journey of Slow Progress
Oman has a relatively good record in environmental conservation and pollution control measures. In 2019, Oman ranked 9th in the world in implementing environmental laws and regulations. In addition, Oman has made significant progress in improving its environmental performance, as evidenced by its rise in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) from 149th to 50th globally between 2022 and 2024. For example, Oman has set targets to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix, aiming for 20% of its electricity to come from renewable sources by 2027.
Oman joined the World Bank’s “Zero Routine Flaring by 2030” initiative in 2017. In the same year, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) also joined. Oman submitted its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in July 2021. The government committed to an unconditional contribution of a 3 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 along with a conditional contribution of an additional 4 percent reduction, for a total of 7 percent, according to the World Bank website. Oman is also participating in the Global Methane Pledge.
Project data shows that total flaring in Oman between 2012 and 2022 amounted to about 27 billion cubic meters and 70 million tons of carbon dioxide.
Total flaring in Oman increased slightly from about 1.89 billion cubic meters in 2012 to 2.2 billion cubic meters in 2022. This resulted in emissions of about 4.8 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2012 and about 5.8 million tons in 2022.
Project data shows that the following sites/licenses in Oman have experienced high levels of flaring for several years, indicating that operators of these licenses have been conducting routine flaring from 2012 to 2022:
North, Central, and South Oman (operated by PDO):
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 13.25 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 37.1 million tons
Sunaynah (Block 9)(operated by Occidental):
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 3.43 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 9.6 million tons
Wadi Aswad (Block 5) (operated by Dell):
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 1.52 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 4.27 million tons
Ghunaim (Block 4) (operated by CC Energy):
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 1.23 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 3.45 million tons
Afar (Block 3) (operated by CC Energy):
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 1 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 2.95 million tons
Al Mukhaizna (operated by Occidental):
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 1 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 2.8 million tons
Habiba (operated by Occidental):
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 0.91 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 2.55 million tons
Khazzan (operated by BP):
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 0.87 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 2.43 million tons
Wadi Aswad (Block 27) (operated by Occidental):
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 0.62 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 1.74 million tons
Abu Tubul (operated by OQ):
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 0.44 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 1.24 million tons
Ad Dhahirah (operated by OQ):
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 0.42 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 1.16 million tons
Block 12 (operated by TotalEnergies):
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 0.29 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 0.81 million tons
Sur LNG Plant (operated by Oman Investment Authority, Shell, TotalEnergies, Korea Gas Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui & Co, PTT, Itochu Corporation):
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 0.22 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 0.61 million tons
Petroleum Development Oman: Significant Improvement
Like Oman, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is also a signatory to the World Bank’s initiative, committing to reducing gas flaring and carbon dioxide emissions. According to the World Bank’s website on global flaring and venting regulations: “Since 2018, PDO has been managing all nonroutine flaring activities using the concept of measures that are as low as reasonably practicable. PDO has developed an electronic system, Flaring Waiver and As Low as Reasonably Practical Demonstration Tool, to conduct an economic and environmental evaluation of each nonroutine flaring scenario.”
According to the World Bank’s website, PDO is responsible for producing about 70 percent of oil and gas in Oman. Since endorsing the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative, the Ministry of Oil and Gas, now known as the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, has led efforts to develop flaring and venting guidelines. At the same time, PDO and other operators have implemented projects to reduce flaring. At the end of 2020, a new government company, Energy Development Oman, was established. This holding company of the PDO will focus on natural gas, renewable energy, and green hydrogen.
Project data, based on satellite imagery, estimates that Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has a flaring volume of around 13.2 billion cubic metres, resulting in an emission of around 34.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from 2012 to 2022 in Oman. This figure includes every oil and gas license where PDO has full control or shares operating rights for a specific block throughout the country.
The company’s flaring level has decreased from around 1.2 billion cubic metres in 2012 to around 0.8 billion cubic metres in 2022, representing a 33.33% reduction in flaring at Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) during this period.
Similarly, the reduction in CO2 emissions has decreased from 3.2 million tons in 2012 to 2.28 million tons in 2022, representing a decline of approximately 28.75%.
However, the company is committed to ending routine flaring by 2030, just six years from now. Will it be able to achieve this ambitious goal?
Neither the Government of Oman nor Petroleum Development Oman responded to the project team’s inquiries.
Oman Laws
The Sultanate of Oman regulates gas flaring under the Oil and Gas Law of 2011. Article 39 of Chapter Six addresses environmental protection and includes the following conditions:
1- Treatment of waste before disposal to protect the environment and water sources.
2- Not to dispose any gas but if necessary, the appropriate means to protect the environment shall be observed.
3- Take all precautions and arrangements necessary when the possession, transportation, transfer or use of hazardous Substances while conducting operations, including wastes resulting from operation and flammable and liquids material under pressure, burning and oxidizing, toxic and irritating, radioactive, corrosive Substances. Insurance cover shall be taken to insure against liability for damage that may result from them.
4- The protection of all ground layers containing fresh water and the common layer that contain water.
5- The fresh potable water for drinking or agriculture shall not be used for oil well injection, except in cases of absolute necessity and in the absence of a suitable replacement and after obtaining a permit from the competent authorities.
6- Not to re-inject the water associated with oil in the ground only after partially treated according to the specifications and standards prescribed in this regard.
7- To abandon or the close the dry oil or used wells in accordance with rules established by the Ministry.
8- To take the necessary precautions to prevent the leakage of Petroleum Substances.
9- To take preventive measures to prevent pollution of all kinds.
10- To take all appropriate immediate actions to reduce the environmental effects of explosions and accidents that may arise in the operational sites and the removal of waste products and to inform competent authorities immediately of the accident and take steps to control it.
11- To reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in the Concession Area using the techniques and appropriate means to protect the environment.
In addition, Ministerial Resolution No. 118/2004 sets limits for chemical air pollution (as shown in the image below).
However, Chapter 8 of the Oil and Gas Law does not specify penalties for violations of Article 39, which establishes environmental requirements related to gas or violations of Articles 41–43, which outline provisions regarding gas usage. Nonetheless, Article 51 of Chapter 8 allows the minister of energy and minerals to determine penalties for violations of articles of the law not specified in the chapter, according to the World Bank. Additionally, Article 31 of the Law on Conservation of the Environment and Prevention of Pollution addresses monetary penalties for violating certain provisions, including the need to obtain a permit and the prohibition on emissions exceeding the permitted limits. According to Article 31 of the Law on Conservation of the Environment and Prevention of Pollution, activities may be suspended if a violator does not rectify the offense within one month.
