The Gas Flaring Problem

Looks like the Yar'Adua administration has pushed back the deadline to end gas flaring in Nigeria. An editorial in the Guardian has this to say:

The practice of gas flaring is unimaginative and ultimately harmful to the long-term interests of the nation. Nigeria flares about 2.5 million metric cubic feet of gas daily. The World Bank calculates the losses at over $2.5 billion annually. ... Nigeria with its huge population cannot afford to take a myopic view of the future by basking in the glow of crude oil sales whilst at the same time neglecting the associated gas which will ultimately outlive oil as the mainstay of our economy.

This is a big climate change and pollution and health problem. Of course, on all my Chinatown bus rides up I-95 I've noticed several American companies still flare.