How to Extract Methane From a Lake

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Sheime power's project director, tony de la motte, declined to answer nature's questions about the plant schedule or details of its operation. The degast water still contains high levels of nutrients and toxic hydrogen sulphide so returning it too near the surface could kill fish and lead to harm algal blooms. It is also salty and laden with c o two, making it relatively dense. If released into the lake at too shallow a depth, the degast water would sink - potentially disturbing the main density gradient that keeps the gassy waters trapped below.

Lake Kivu, nestled between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, is a geological anomaly that holds 300 cubic kilometres of dissolved carbon dioxide and 60 cubic kilometres of methane.

The lake has the potential to explosively release these gases, which could fill the surrounding valley, potentially killing millions of people.

Researchers are trying to establish the likelihood of such an event happening, and the best way to safely siphon the gases from the lake.

This is an audio version of our feature: How dangerous is Africa’s explosive Lake Kivu?

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