Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAGOS239
2007-03-30 14:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:  

IMPROVING U.S. DIPLOMACY ON INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

Tags:  AID EPA SENV TBIO AL AM BK CB CD CM CS CV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0271
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #0239/01 0891408
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 301408Z MAR 07
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 8536
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8709
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0092
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0251
RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0231
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0230
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 0232
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH AFB UK
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000239 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/IHA DANO WILUSZ
DOE FOR GPERSON, CAROLYN GAY
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR FLISER
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART
STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AID EPA SENV TBIO AL AM BK CB CD CM CS CV
EK, ES, FJ, GG, HA, HO, IN, KE, KR
SUBJECT: IMPROVING U.S. DIPLOMACY ON INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

REF: STATE 192919

LAGOS 00000239 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000239

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/IHA DANO WILUSZ
DOE FOR GPERSON, CAROLYN GAY
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR FLISER
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART
STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AID EPA SENV TBIO AL AM BK CB CD CM CS CV
EK, ES, FJ, GG, HA, HO, IN, KE, KR
SUBJECT: IMPROVING U.S. DIPLOMACY ON INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

REF: STATE 192919

LAGOS 00000239 001.2 OF 002



1. This is a response to an action request or details on
Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) in Nigeria. A septel will be sent
assessing the GON's awareness of and commitment to reduce
IAP. According to Ministry of Petroleum Resources, household
kerosene is used 99 percent of the time as an energy source
in Nigeria; kerosene and wood are the most common cooking
fuels. Residential demand provides approximately 50 percent
of the world's liquefied petroleum (LP) gas demand. However,
Nigerian LP gas consumption has averaged around 60,000 tons
annually over the past decade; quite low by world standards.

--------------
Delta State Is A Member Under The PCIA
--------------


2. Delta State, located in the oil producing Niger Delta, is
a member of Project Gaia, under the Partnership for Clean
Indoor Air (PCIA). Neighboring Bayelsa state is not a
Project Gaia partner, but is interested in importing methanol
stoves and fuel for indoor cooking.

--------------
Methanol Stoves: Public-Private Collaboration
--------------


3. The Delta State Ministry of Power and Energy, in
partnership with Project Gaia under the PCIA began a pilot
project in November 2006 to test the demand for methanol
stoves in high, medium, and low income households in Delta
State. Following the initial positive feedback and interest
in methanol as a cooking fuel, USAID has begun facilitating
stakeholder meetings with Delta and Bayelsa state
governments, oil companies, methanol plant construction
companies, and stove manufacturers to discuss and possibly
move forward with the production and use of methanol plants
and cooking stoves.


4. The stakeholders agree methanol would increase
communities' access to affordable energy as well as reduce
gas flaring by oil companies and indoor pollution. Methanol
is approximately 15-30 cents per liter less expensive than
kerosene. With coordinated public information and proper
training in the use and storage of methanol and methanol
stoves, the project is expected to improve some 200,000 rural
families' (approximately 1 million people) access to clean,
effective cooking fuel and electrification. (Note: There is
no quantifiable data available on IAP in Nigeria at this
time. End Note.)


5. To relieve both indoor and outdoor air pollution, the
Government of Nigeria is making efforts to promote the
production and supply of liquefied petroleum gas (propane) in
Nigeria, which is expected to offset emissions from burning
wood, charcoal, kerosene and dried dung. A worst-case
scenario of wood use conducted by the Federal Ministry of
Petroleum Resources predicted emissions of approximately
44,460 megatons a year of particulate matter and 4,323
megatons a year of oxides of nitrogen from burning wood in

2010.

-------------- --------------
Needed: Increased Public and Government Awareness
-------------- --------------

LAGOS 00000239 002.2 OF 002




6. The GON and Nigerian public need to better understand and
be aware of indoor air pollution before it can be tackled.
Presenting IAP to the federal and state governments would be
a first step in improving indoor air quality. Public
awareness campaigns are needed to highlight the dangers of
IAP. Projects such as Gaia could be presented to other
states, particularly in oil producing areas, which could
benefit both from reduced gas flaring and creation of a new
energy market. (Note: The GON will undergo its first
transition from one democratically elected government to
another in May 2007; approaching the federal and state
government of Nigeria would be most advantageous once the new
administrations have settled in. End Note.)
BROWNE