By Sergio Beristain y Adriana Silva Ordaz
On the 16th of last February 2005, the Kyoto Protocol, of which Mexico is a member and is obliged to comply with it, entered into effect to combat climate change.
The main objective of the Protocol is to reduce by 5.2% global greenhouse gas emissions, which are responsible increasing temperatures on Earth. Among these gases we find: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O); and also industrial gases: hydro fluorocarbons (HFC’S), (PFC’S) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). During the first period of the Treaty’s commitment, which extends from 2008 to 2012, we hope to see a reduction in total emissions of these gases; the first three gases to levels present in 1990 and the last three to levels present in 1995.
CO2 is the prime culprit for global warming on Earth, and although it does not trap heat as effectively as other gases of its type, its volume in the atmosphere is quite elevated due to high consumption of petroleum and its derivatives, as the main fuel in industrial processes. It is very simple, if we do not manage to stop the emission of these gases, the first effect would be out of control contamination, modification of the environment, the death of species whose ability to adapt is poor, modification or extinction of life as we know it, etc….
One of the quickest and most efficient solutions to prevent global warming lies in the use of natural gas as a main source of fuel substituting petroleum and its derivatives. This is because combustion of natural gas emits almost 30% less carbon dioxide (CO2) than petroleum and 45 % less than coal. In fact, due to its natural abundance, relatively cheaper price and lower environmental impact, this energy resource should form the base for industrial consumption in our country as it is an affordable and economic solution. Nevertheless, the change to natural gas consumption is definitely not a cure-all given that the problem is very complex.
Moreover, it is worth noting that methane, the main component of natural gas, is in fact a greenhouse gas. However, different studies such as those undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States and the Gas Research Institute (GRI) in 1997, concluded that increasing the use of natural gas instead of other combustible fossil fuels would reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
Despite the large and immediate benefits that natural gas represents as a solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, not to mention the economic boom the gas market in our country could obtain along with it, PEMEX, transporter and distributor of natural gas, faces serious problems that include a lack of culture; lack of coordination between all levels of authorities; lack of reforms to the legislation; a distribution system that focuses on having a determined number of clients instead of quality of clients and consumption capacity.
These situations serve to apply the breaks to development of the industry, as in the case of a distributor who must focus on getting the largest number of clients without paying much attention to the amount of gas that these might consume, and putting to one side development of a distribution system to satisfy the real big consumer of natural gas: the industrial sector.
It is evident therefore that Congress must rethink the exploitation, processing, storage, distribution, transport and consumption of natural gas in our country as soon as possible even though it is already late, so that the change to natural gas will be quick and sustained.
One easy, quick and economical method of doing this would be to modify the “client coverage commitment” in natural gas distribution systems by reducing paradoxically the number of domestic clients to arrive at a level more in line with reality and increasing the volume of natural gas distribution (capacity) and the number of big clients or large consumers (industries). This will help meet the aim of turning natural gas into the main fuel for the industrial sector, which is the chief producer of CO2 emissions, but without neglecting the residential and commercial sectors that also contribute emissions albeit at a lower level (32%).
Once again we ask ourselves are we OUT OF TIME?, will we be able to COMPLY WITH THE KYOTO PROTOCOL?- will we arrive at our goal of REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASES?, and will our Congress do their job with respect to NATURAL GAS? We do not know, but what we do know is that if these goals are not met we may disappear ourselves. Given the importance of these topics however, we can say with true conviction that we are fed up with the passivity and circus of a Congress, with the news media, and the confrontations between Local and Federal authorities; subsistence and PERSONAL INTEREST would have been more preferable to this COLLECTIVE INTEREST.
EL MUNDO DEL PETROLEO | Año 2 Tomo 10 Junio -Julio 2005 | Pag. 73
