Transcript Geopolitics and Nigeria_oil - George Washington High School

The Geopolitical and
Environmental Impact of
Changes in Patterns and
Trends in Oil
Nigeria’s Case Study
IB Geography I
Geopolitics: defined
 Political
relations among nations,
particularly relating to claims and
disputes pertaining to borders,
territories and resources.
 Energy
security depends on resource
availability, domestic and foreign. It can
be affected by geopolitics- and is a key
issue for many economies.
Energy Crisis in America
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Energy Crisis Defined: A serious shortage of
energy which interrupts domestic supplies
and has an impact on all sectors of the
economy.
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Following the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, Arab
nations reduced supply of oil to US and
Western Europe in an effort to lessen support
of Israel. This led to a serious energy shortage,
known as the energy crisis.
Impacts of an Energy Crisis in
America today
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People will make fewer trips, carpool more, drive less.
Demand for high mileage cars (like SUVs) will
decrease
Businesses will turn off advertising lights
Increase in deaths from heat and cold in poor areas
Increase in illegal immigration from Mexico due to
increasing unemployment
Increase in homelessness
Shrinking of the middle class as more people go into
poverty
Energy efficiency measures will become law
Strategic Petroleum Reserve
The USA’s reserve supply of
oil, which should last for about 3
months, in the event of severe
interruptions to imported oil.
 Began in 1977
 Currently holds 700 millions barrels of oil
 Defined:
Energy Pathways

Defined: Supply routes
between energy producers
and consumers which may
be pipelines shipping routes
or electricity cables.
 Most Middle East oil exports
go by tanker through the Strait
of Hormuz (between the
Persian Gulf and the Gulf of
Oman)
 30% of world’s oil supply
passes through this strait
 Iran has at times indicated that
it could block this shipping
route in the event of serious
political tension
Nigeria’s
Case Study
The curse of resources?
Nigeria’s paradox :
Vast oil reserves and export revenues but
widespread poverty, lack of development and
environmental degradation.
Oil pipelines have been laid throughout the delta region. There
are frequent leaks.
Oil spills cause water pollution and soil degradation. Reducing
agricultural production and fishing yields in what was a fertile
area.
An estimated 70% of the revenue is stolen by corrupt
government officials, while the majority of the people of the
Delta region live on less than a dollar a day.
With politicians directly benefiting from oil revenues there has been little
incentive to invest in infrastructure and welfare. The economy remains
dependent on oil with little diversification, declining agricultural and industrial
output. Few jobs for locals in the oil industry.
Oil flares are a constant danger and emit toxic fumes into the air.
Nigerian militant groups, including MEND, Movement for the
Emancipation of the Niger Delta, disrupt oil supply in the delta
Militant groups such as MEND also able to target offshore drilling
Environmental impact
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More than 6,000 oil spills have been recorded since 1976.
Less than 25% of spills are fixed0.
Many Niger Delta residents suffer from oil poisoning.
More gas is flared in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world.
Over 250 toxins have been identified in gas flare emissions.
Breathing particulate from flaring is linked to disease and premature
death.
Potable water in the Niger Delta creeks region is virtually
nonexistent due to oil contamination.
Oil pollution has killed off fish, damaged the soil and caused wildlife
to vanish.
Handmade fishing nets can become useless in 6 months from acid
rain caused by flaring.
Acid rain acidifies bodies of water, damages vegetation and decays
building materials.
Nigeria and South Korea stand at the opposite ends of the
development spectrum. Twenty years ago, their exports were the
same value, but Korea developed a diversified manufacturing base,
while Nigeria was dependent on oil, which fell in value. Korea’s hightech exports like cars and electronic goods have raised its standard
of living.
Country (rank in
oil production
2007)
Oil production
(2007)
GDP per capita
US$
(rank 2007)
Life expectancy
(rank 2007)
Infant mortality
per 1000 (rank
2007)
Venezuela
10
2,667,000
bbl/day
14,000
(85)
73.4
(99)
22
(101)
Kuwait
11
2,613,000
bbl/day
60,800
(5)
77.5
(52)
9.2
(158)
Norway
12
2,565,000
bbl/day
57,500
(6)
79.8
(23)
3.6
(213)
Nigeria
13
2,352,000
bbl/day
2200
(182)
46.5
(210)
95.7
(13)
Brazil
14
2,277,000
bbl/day
10,300
(105)
71.7
(122)
23.3
(98)
Algeria
15
2,173,000
bbl/day
7100
(125)
73.7
(93)
28.7
(81)
Shell Oil: The Awful Truth
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejym4m
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