Energy - KQ3 (issues with increasing demand for energy)

Question 1

What are the case studies?

Answer 1

• Three Gorges Dam China (HEP)
• Alaska, USA (oil)
• Mali
• Niger Delta, Nigeria (oil)

Question 2

What are facts about the Three Gorges Dam?

Answer 2

• ON Yangtze River
• Completed in 2009
• 2km wide and nearly 200m high
• 26 generators
• $20 billion estimated cost
• 66km long reservoir

Question 3

What are the social issues with the Three Gorges Dam? (disadvantages)

Answer 3

• 1.3 million people forced to move = homes would be flooded
• Hundreds of new towns and cities built along reservoir = built too quickly and poor conditions
• Slowly moving water in reservoirs = health risks as pollutants collect

Question 4

What are the social issues with the Three Gorges Dam? (advantages)

Answer 4

• Cheap renewable energy for locals
• Government has supported development of new towns = infrastructure development
• Reduced flood risk downstream = reduced death toll and financial losses
• Source of national pride

Question 5

What are economic advantages of the Three Gorges Dam?

Answer 5

• Expensive to build and requires costly on going maintenance = reinforcing valley sides and reservoir dredging
• Agricultural land has been lost = affects local farmer’s livelihood and income

Question 6

What are the economic disadvantages of the Three Gorges Dam?

Answer 6

• Can supply 100 billion kilowatts per hour of energy to industries and domestic use
• Creates jobs (eg construction, maintenance, dam material supplies)
• Improved river transport = increased trade from Chongqing (31 million people) due to coast

Question 7

What are the environmental issues with the Three Gorges Dam?

Answer 7

• 800 cultural, architectural historic sites covered by rising water levels
• Slow moving reservoir created by the dam = changed naturally fast flowing river ecosystem and some fish and plants not able to survive
• Agricultural land lost
• Less sediment downstream = river bed erosion increased = distributing ports on the river

Question 8

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the North Slope?

Answer 8

• USA’s largest oil field = over 30 years of oil pumping
• 800,000 barrels a day (16% of US production)
• 1/4 of world’s untapped oil and gas reserves on Arctic
  HOWEVER
• Sourcing is dangerous
• Damage/melting of permafrost due to heat from buildings/pipelines
• Wildlife damaged = seismic exploration disturbs animals, oil spills degrade habitats and gravel extraction from river bed = less fish

Question 9

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Area 1002?

Answer 9

• Possible drilling zone = greater security for supplies
• Can reduce imports of oil and gas = boosts balance of payments and job opportunities
  HOWEVER
• Drilling would take away 100,000s of Porcupine Caribou’s main calving ground, grazing area and where they escape mosquitos and predators
• Tundra ecosystem is vulnerable

Question 10

What are facts about the Niger Delta, Nigeria?

Answer 10

• In southern Nigeria = where Niger River enters Gulf of Guinea
• Oil exploration began in 1950s
• Region is rich in oil = 2 million barrels a day
• Nigeria = 8th largest oil producer in world
• 23 million people in Niger Delta region
• Poor quality housing
• 60% of population without electricity
• Life expectancy = 43 years – 12% of babies die before 1
• Low levels of education and health services
• Nigeria = West Africa’s biggest producer of petroleum
• 1/3 largest mangrove = high biodiversity

Question 11

What are the social disadvantages of the Niger Delta?

Answer 11

• Local people become ill = flaring of gas creates gas fogs and acid rain = releases carcinogenic particles into environment = cancer and respiratory problems
• Children work at docks = no school
• 60% of people on less than $1 a day
• Not enough of oil profits are used to improve basic infrastructure

Question 12

What are the social advantages of the Niger Delta?

Answer 12

• Children receive income from working on docks
• Oil sold for income
• Employment opportunities = better quality of life
• Low cost, locally refined fuel = provided for homes needing electricity
• Oil provides 80% government’s revenues

Question 13

What are the economic advantages of the Niger Delta?

Answer 13

• 2005 = oil production was 131 million tonnes
• 90% of Nigeria’s exports by value
• Income
• Earned over $800 billion since in 1960
• Produced over 75% of Nigeria’s earnings since 1975

Question 14

What are the economic disadvantages of the Niger Delta?

Answer 14

• Cost of leaks = $10 million a day
• Too much dependence on narrow export base
• Many jobs go to foreigners = more skilled
• Dominated by 5 TNCs (eg Shell)

Question 15

What are the environmental advantages of the Niger Delta?

Answer 15

• 60% of West Africa’s fish stocks spawn in swamps, creeks and tidal inlets along delta coast

Question 16

What are the environmental disadvantages of the Niger Delta?

Answer 16

• Oil spills poison soil = reduces crop production (4000 spills since 1958)
• 500 million tonnes of crude oil lost to spillage = degrades environment, ecosystem and wildlife
• WWF said Niger Delta region is 1 of 5 most polluted places on Earth
• Flaring of gas damages crops and causes acid rain
• Widespread deforestation
• Some illegal refineries put crude oil on boats where fish swim
• Dying vegetation = poisoned by soil turning soggy and greasy when oil seeps through
• Oil companies fail to maintain/replace rusty pipelines = more pollution and leakages