Estimation of Greenhouse Gases Emitted from Energy Industry (Oil Refining and Electricity Generation) in Iraq Using IPCC Methodology

Abstract

The energy sector is integral to the wellbeing of the entire Iraqi economy and will remain so well into the future. In the current study, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodology was used to estimate CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions from oil refining and electricity generation in Iraq for a period exceeding 25 years. From 1990, Iraq experienced two wars and an economic siege, then faced political, social, and security instability, which affected its energy production. The results showed that the CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions from the oil refining and electricity generation in Iraq experienced a sharp decline in the years 1991, 2003, and 2007 due to a decrease in the production of oil derivatives in refineries, according to political and security conditions. The total CO2 emissions from the types of fuel used in electricity generation in Iraq was approximately 14,000 Gg and 58,000 Gg in 1990 and 2017, respectively. The increase in CO2 emissions was greater than 300% between 1990 and 2017. The continued use of poor types of fuel, such as fuel oil and crude oil, will lead to an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from these sources, and higher levels of environmental pollution.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on NO2, O3, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations and assessing air quality changes in Baghdad, Iraq

“…As for the industrial sources, represented by power plants and transportation, as well as the spread of different kinds of generators of various sizes servicing homes, farms, factories, and various governmental and non-governmental. This leads to increased air pollutants in the atmosphere, and environmental pollution ( Hashim et al, 2020 ). On the other hand, there was an increase in O 3 by 13%, 75%, 225% and 525%, between the periods before the lockdown (January 16 to February 29, 2020) and during the lockdown (March 1 to July 24, 2020).…”

“…The energy sector (crude oil production) represents the backbone of the Iraqi economy and its exports. Iraq relies heavily on the use of fossil fuels for electricity production, which has increased from recent years, due to population growth and growing electricity consumption ( Hashim et al, 2020 ). Electricity production, oil refining, natural gas flaring, transportation and population are among the most important sources of air pollution in Iraq ( IEA, 2012 ).…”

On the investigation of COVID-19 lockdown influence on air pollution concentration: regional investigation over eighteen provinces in Iraq

“…The Iraqi economy relies mainly on the energy sector as it is the main source of foreign exchange. Fossil fuels are mainly used for energy production in Iraq and due to population growth, the demand for local consumption has increased tremendously (Hashim et al 2020b ). The activities involved in gas flaring, oil refining, and generation of electricity, as well as the increase in people movement, have all contributed to air contamination in Iraq (IEA 2012 ).…”

Effect of Pretreatment, Fermentation Medium and Solid Loading Rate on The Production of Bio- Ethanol from Fruit Waste Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae

“…It is affected by various reasons like improper combustion of fossil fuels which leads to the emissions of various harmful gases like methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O2), Carbon dioxide (CO2), and Carbon monoxide (CO) (Poorter, 2004). Various pollutants are emitted by different energy-producing industries like Sulphur oxides (Sox), Carbon monoxide (CO), Methane (CH4), Nitrogen oxides (NOx), and various organic compounds (Hashim et al, 2020). The use of fossil fuel is an integral part of the energy sector having many consequences including the emission of GHGs (Jursová et al, 2018).…”