Launched in April 2015 by the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank Group president Jim Yong Kim, the ‘Zero Routine Flaring by 2030’ initiative is being supported by nine countries, ten oil firms and six development institutions, besides Wintershall.
The countries include Norway, Cameroon, Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Gabon, Uzbekistan, Republic of Congo, Angola and France.
The World Bank, United Nations Sustainable Energy for All, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank are the development institutions.
The companies supporting the initiative include Royal Dutch Shell, Total, Eni, Statoil, Societé Nationale des Hydrocarbures, State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic, Petroamazonas EP, Societé Nationale des Petroles du Congo, Kuwait Oil Company and BG Group.
About 140 billion cubic meters of natural gas produced is burned or flared at thousands of oil fields around the world per year, resulting in over 300 million tons of CO2 emissions.
Wintershall CEO Mario Mehren said: "Using resources efficiently and combining long-term economic success with environmental and social responsibility have priority for Wintershall.
"To underline these goals, Wintershall has now joined the World Bank initiative as the largest internationally active German oil and gas producer."
About 500 million cubic meters of associated gas flaring has been eliminated annually by Wintershall since 2012, thus reducing CO2 emissions by up to two million tons per year.
As part of this effort, Wintershall implemented innovative technology at the production sites and uses the associated gas for generating electricity, heat and steam.
Image: Wintershall has reduced CO2 emissions by up to two million tons per year since 2012. Photo: courtesy of Wintershall Holding GmbH.
