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Methane Extraction on Lake Kivu: Green Extractive Humanitarianism
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 December 2020
Abstract
In 2016, Rwanda began extracting methane gas from Lake Kivu, an innovative project designed to reduce the risk of a deadly spontaneous gas release while providing clean and renewable power to an energy-strapped region. Based on qualitative research in Rwanda from 2016 to 2019, Doughty, Uwizeye, and Uwimana use the Kivu methane extraction project to ask, How do we balance urgent electrification needs with responsible energy policies that respond to environmental risks, particularly in post-conflict contexts? Analyzing the Kivu methane projects as “green extractive humanitarianism” provides cautions within the promises of sustainability and “green capitalism.”
Résumé
En 2016, le Rwanda a commencé à extraire le méthane du lac Kivu, un projet novateur conçu pour réduire le risque de libération spontanée mortelle de gaz tout en fournissant une énergie propre et renouvelable à une région à court d'énergie. Doughty, Uwizeye, et Uwimana ont mené des recherches qualitatives au Rwanda de 2016 à 2019, en utilisant le projet d’extraction de méthane du Kivu pour poser une question de recherche: Comment équilibrer les besoins urgents en électricité avec des politiques sur l’énergie responsables qui répondent aux risques environnementaux, en particulier dans les situations d’après conflit? Analyser les projets de méthane au Kivu en tant qu’ «humanitaire extractive vert» fournit des mises en garde dans le cadre des promesses de durabilité et de "capitalisme vert".
Resumo
Em 2016, o Ruanda começou a extrair gás metano do Lago Kivu, num projeto inovador concebido para diminuir os riscos de fuga espontânea de gás mortífero e simultaneamente proporcionar energia limpa e renovável a uma região com fortes constrangimentos energéticos. Com base numa investigação qualitativa realizada no Ruanda entre 2016 e 2019, Doughty, Uwizeye e Uwimana partem do projeto de extração de gás metano no Lago Kivu para levantar a seguinte grande questão: de que modo poderemos alcançar um equilíbrio entre as necessidades prementes de eletrificação e as políticas de energia responsáveis que respondam aos riscos ambientais, nomeadamente em contextos de pós-conflito militar? A análise do projeto Kivu chama atenção para algumas das cautelas que é preciso manter em relação às promessas de sustentabilidade e de “capitalismo verde”.
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