Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has identified natural gas development and gas flare recovery as key priorities in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonise its operations, reinforcing Nigeria’s position in the global discussions on energy transition at COP31.
The company’s approach centres on expanding the development and commercialisation of natural gas while recovering gas currently wasted through routine flaring. The strategy is intended to reduce environmental pollution, improve energy efficiency and convert previously wasted resources into economic value.
The position also reflects Nigeria’s attempt to balance its energy security and economic development priorities with international commitments to address climate change.
NNPC’s Gas Strategy and Energy Transition Priorities
NNPC’s emphasis on natural gas forms part of a broader strategy to expand Nigeria’s energy resources while improving the environmental performance of its petroleum operations.
The company has previously described gas as a major component of Nigeria’s long-term energy mix, particularly because of its potential to support electricity generation, industrial development and economic growth.
Nigeria possesses more than 215 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, making it one of the countries with substantial gas resources. The challenge, however, is converting those reserves into reliable energy supplies and economic opportunities while reducing the environmental consequences of oil and gas production.
NNPC’s sustainability strategy identifies the elimination of routine gas flaring, methane reduction, operational efficiency and the adoption of lower-carbon technologies as important components of its emissions-reduction pathway.
The company’s longer-term decarbonisation plans also include renewable energy integration, operational electrification and carbon capture and storage.
Gas Flare Recovery Takes Centre Stage
Gas flaring remains a major environmental concern in Nigeria’s petroleum-producing regions, particularly communities in the Niger Delta.
The practice involves burning natural gas released during oil production. When the gas is not captured for productive use, the process contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and exposes surrounding communities to environmental and public-health concerns.
Through gas flare recovery and commercialisation, Nigeria aims to capture this wasted resource and convert it into commercially useful products.
These include:
- Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking.
- Compressed natural gas (CNG) for transportation and industrial applications.
- Liquefied natural gas (LNG) for domestic and international markets.
- Gas for electricity generation.
- Industrial feedstock for manufacturing.
The Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP), administered by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), is central to this effort.
The programme seeks to attract private investment and deploy technologies that allow qualified investors to capture and commercialise gas that would otherwise be flared.
According to the NUPRC’s COP31 investment brief, the programme is targeting flare-gas capture capacity of approximately 250 million standard cubic feet per day across more than 49 flare sites.
The commission also identifies an investment potential of approximately $500 million and an estimated reduction of six million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually if the projects are fully implemented.
The projections are targets and investment estimates, not confirmation that the full capacity or emissions reductions have already been achieved.
Nigeria Strengthens Methane Reduction Efforts
Beyond gas recovery, methane emissions have become an important focus of Nigeria’s petroleum-sector decarbonisation strategy.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and reducing leaks and uncontrolled releases from oil and gas infrastructure is considered an important way to limit the industry’s contribution to climate change.
In June 2026, NNPC announced an extended partnership with TotalEnergies to deploy airborne technology for detecting, measuring and reducing methane and carbon emissions across its upstream operations.
The technology, known as the Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications (AUSEA), is designed to identify emissions and help operators improve monitoring and mitigation activities.
The agreement was extended for another 24 months as part of efforts to support NNPC’s gas-flare reduction obligations and its ambition to achieve near-zero methane emissions by 2030.
NNPC’s participation in international decarbonisation initiatives also reflects the growing importance of emissions monitoring and accountability in the global oil and gas industry.
COP31 Provides Platform for Climate Investment
The gas and emissions agenda is unfolding against the backdrop of COP31, where governments, energy companies, regulators, investors and climate organisations are discussing practical approaches to climate action.
Nigeria’s petroleum-sector priorities are particularly relevant to discussions about how African countries can pursue economic development and energy security while addressing environmental challenges.
The NUPRC has outlined a series of COP31 engagements focused on attracting investment into methane reduction, flare-gas commercialisation and carbon capture technologies.
Its scheduled November 11 side event in the Nigeria Pavilion at the Antalya Expo Centre is titled From Policy Implementation to Investment: Mobilising Technology and Climate Finance for Upstream Sustainability and Decarbonisation.
The programme is designed to connect Nigerian regulatory priorities with international technology providers, climate financiers and development institutions.
The commission has identified several investment areas, including methane detection systems, leak detection and repair technologies, gas recovery infrastructure and digital emissions-monitoring platforms.
It has also outlined opportunities for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), which involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions and storing or using the captured gas.
The NUPRC’s investment brief identifies prospective carbon dioxide storage opportunities in depleted oil and gas fields and underground geological formations, particularly in the Niger Delta.
These initiatives demonstrate how Nigeria is seeking to attract capital and technical expertise to support emissions reduction in its petroleum industry.
Nigeria’s Zero-Routine-Flaring Ambition
Nigeria has repeatedly committed to ending routine gas flaring as part of its broader climate and energy objectives.
The government has identified 2030 as an important target for eliminating routine flaring, with the NGFCP serving as one of the principal mechanisms for achieving that objective.
In September 2026, the NUPRC disclosed that 27 of the 43 flare-gas sites originally identified for award under the programme had been awarded to investors.
Commission Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan also warned that investors could lose their permits if they failed to demonstrate sufficient progress in developing the awarded sites.
The regulatory position highlights the government’s intention to move beyond investment announcements and ensure that approved projects translate into actual gas recovery and emissions reductions.
NNPC has also reported progress through individual joint-venture operations. In February 2024, the company announced that its joint venture with TotalEnergies had eliminated routine gas flaring across its four leases.
The achievement involved eliminating approximately 12 million standard cubic feet of gas flared daily at OML 100, with an estimated reduction of 341,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually.
These developments provide examples of how flare-reduction projects can contribute to Nigeria’s wider environmental objectives.
Why the Development Matters for Nigeria and Africa
Nigeria’s decision to prioritise gas development and flare recovery carries implications beyond its petroleum industry.
First, capturing gas that would otherwise be wasted could improve the availability of energy for electricity generation and industrial activities.
Reliable energy supplies remain important to Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, businesses and households. Expanding gas infrastructure could help support industries that depend on consistent and affordable energy.
Second, commercialising flare gas could create opportunities for private investors, engineering companies, technology providers and local businesses.
The programme could also support employment and economic activity in oil-producing communities if projects are implemented effectively and local stakeholders benefit from the resulting investments.
Third, reducing routine flaring and methane emissions could improve the environmental performance of Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
However, achieving meaningful progress will require effective regulation, transparent emissions reporting, consistent investment and independent verification of results.
For Africa, the debate also raises an important question about how resource-rich countries can pursue industrialisation and energy access without ignoring the environmental costs of fossil-fuel production.
Natural gas remains part of Nigeria’s development strategy, but its environmental benefits will depend on how efficiently it is produced, transported and used.
Gas development alone does not automatically make an economy low-carbon. Methane leakage, continued fossil-fuel dependence and the pace of renewable energy deployment remain important considerations.
What Happens Next?
The effectiveness of Nigeria’s gas-focused decarbonisation strategy will depend on the implementation of announced projects and the ability of regulators and operators to demonstrate measurable results.
Key developments to watch include:
- Flare-gas commercialisation: Whether investors develop awarded sites and establish operational gas-recovery facilities.
- Methane monitoring: Wider deployment of technologies capable of detecting and reducing methane emissions.
- Climate financing: Whether COP31 engagements translate into concrete investment agreements and technology partnerships.
- Regulatory enforcement: Whether the NUPRC ensures compliance with gas-flaring and methane-reduction regulations.
- Emissions targets: Whether NNPC and other operators make measurable progress towards their 2030 environmental commitments.
The NUPRC has outlined plans for further engagement with international partners, including an agreement with the Environmental Defense Fund on satellite-based methane monitoring and verification.
Ultimately, the success of Nigeria’s strategy will be determined not by commitments alone, but by actual reductions in emissions, improved energy infrastructure and the responsible utilisation of the country’s natural resources.
For Nigeria, the challenge is to turn its substantial gas reserves into economic value while ensuring that energy development does not come at the expense of environmental protection.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited – Sustainability Strategy and Net-Zero Pathway. NNPC
- Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission – COP31 Decarbonisation and Investment Programme. cop31.nuprc.gov.ng
- NNPC Limited – NNPC and TotalEnergies Deepen Partnership to Reduce Methane Emissions. NNPC
- NUPRC – Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme. NGFCP Home
- NUPRC – Flare-Gas Investors Warned Over Undeveloped Sites. NUPRC
- NNPC Limited – NNPC/TotalEnergies Joint Venture Achieves Zero Routine Gas Flaring. NNPC
