NNPC Prioritises Gas and Flare Recovery in Nigeria’s Decarbonisation Drive

ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has identified natural gas development, flare recovery and operational emission reduction as key priorities in its strategy to decarbonise its operations.

The company said natural gas would remain central to its long-term energy plans as Nigeria seeks to balance its climate commitments with the need to expand energy access, support industrialisation and maintain economic growth.

Philemon Yilleng, NNPC Limited's Manager of Sustainability Strategy, Standards and Policy, outlined the company's approach during a panel session on decarbonising Africa's energy value chain at the ongoing COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye.

Gas at the Centre of NNPC's Strategy

NNPC has positioned natural gas as a cleaner alternative within its energy-transition strategy.

According to Yilleng, the company views gas not only as a temporary transition fuel but as a major component of its longer-term energy future.

Nigeria holds significant natural-gas resources, and the government sees increased gas development as important for expanding electricity generation, supporting industrial activity and reducing energy poverty.

NNPC said its approach is guided by the Petroleum Industry Act, which requires the company to consider energy security, environmental responsibility and commercial viability in its operations.

Recovering Gas That Would Otherwise Be Flared

A major part of the company's strategy involves recovering gas that is currently flared during oil-production activities.

Gas flaring contributes to greenhouse-gas emissions and represents the loss of a potentially valuable energy resource. NNPC said recovering this gas could reduce emissions while creating opportunities for electricity generation and industrial use.

The company is also targeting improvements in operational efficiency and direct reductions in emissions from its activities.

However, progress will depend on adequate infrastructure around oil and gas facilities. Industry officials have noted that insufficient pipelines, processing facilities and other infrastructure can make it difficult to capture flared gas and transport it to places where it can be used productively.

Financing Remains a Major Challenge

NNPC identified inadequate financing as one of the biggest obstacles to accelerating gas development and implementing its decarbonisation plans.

Yilleng said greater investment would be needed to develop Nigeria's gas resources and build the infrastructure required to recover gas, reduce emissions and support wider energy needs.

The funding challenge reflects a broader issue facing many developing countries: energy-transition projects often require significant upfront investment in infrastructure and technology.

NNPC is therefore working with regulators, joint-venture partners and financiers as it seeks to integrate sustainability commitments into practical operational changes.

Improving Emissions Data and Accountability

The company has also developed policies and frameworks to guide its sustainability programme, including a measurement, reporting and verification system designed to monitor emissions and track progress.

Reliable emissions data is important because it allows companies and regulators to measure whether announced climate and sustainability policies are producing real results.

Stephanie Saunier, Managing Director of Carbon Limits, acknowledged progress made by NNPC in developing its emissions-monitoring systems but said continued work was needed to move towards more comprehensive field measurements.

This would help improve the credibility and accuracy of emissions reporting and provide a clearer picture of the environmental impact of petroleum operations.

Balancing Energy Needs and Climate Goals

NNPC's strategy highlights the difficult balance Nigeria faces in its energy transition.

The country remains heavily dependent on hydrocarbons for government revenue and economic activity, while millions of people still lack reliable access to electricity and modern energy services.

NNPC argues that developing natural gas can help address these challenges while reducing some emissions associated with more carbon-intensive fuels and routine gas flaring.

However, the success of the strategy will depend on whether sufficient financing, technology and infrastructure can be mobilised.

For now, NNPC's message at COP31 is clear: gas development and flare recovery are central to Nigeria's current decarbonisation strategy.

The challenge ahead will be translating these priorities into measurable reductions in emissions while ensuring that Nigeria continues to expand energy access and support economic development.