African oil production

This was an incredibly frustrating story. The oil companies in Nigeria burn off the natural gas (which is a by-product) b/c it's not as profitable as the crude they're producing. Meanwhile, the people of this country desperately need the energy being wasted, and the pollution is harming the local population and contributing to global warming. Stupid!!!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12175714

Morning Edition
July 24, 2007
Gas Flaring Disrupts Life in Oil-Producing Niger Delta
by Ofeibea Quist-Arcton

Every year, millions of dollars are literally going up in smoke in Nigeria, Africa's top crude oil-exporting nation, as companies burn off unwanted natural gas released during oil production.
This flaring and venting produces more greenhouse-gas emissions than any other single source in Africa south of the Sahara, and many who live in Nigeria's oil-producing communities complain of chronic health and environmental problems associated with the gas flares.