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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Hydrogeologists are leveraging oil industry seismic data to locate freshwater aquifers in Africa, where two-thirds of the population faces water scarcity
• A breakthrough in Tanzania using this method revealed the vast Kimbiji aquifer, capable of supplying water to 2 million people for over a century
• The innovative approach highlights the untapped potential of oil exploration data in addressing water shortages
🔭 The context: Oil companies routinely collect seismic data, but this information has rarely been used to map aquifers
• Gaining access to these datasets is challenging due to legal and bureaucratic hurdles, as seen in Ruden AS's three-year effort to secure oil data for a water project in Somalia
• Despite obstacles, advocates urge oil companies to share data to expedite groundwater exploration and lower costs
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Groundwater can alleviate Africa's chronic water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, population growth, and poor water management
• Access to clean water reduces disease, poverty, and conflict, offering a lifeline to vulnerable communities
• However, sustainable management is essential to prevent over-extraction and resource depletion
⏭️ What's next: Regulators in some countries are pushing for greater transparency and earlier public release of seismic data, but resistance from the oil industry remains
• Efforts to map and sustainably manage Africa’s aquifers must scale up, coupled with infrastructure investments to ensure equitable access
• Systemic solutions are crucial to mitigate recurring water crises
💬 One quote: “When they have drilled down to 5,000 metres and there is no oil, they would just say that it’s a dry well, even if it is full of freshwater.” – Helene Ree Ruden, Ruden AS
📈 One stat: Africa’s water scarcity affects 1.34 billion people, nearly two-thirds of the continent’s population
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