The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced its collaboration with the United States Department of State and global management consultancy firm, Deloitte, in a strategic project aimed at reducing methane and other greenhouse gas emissions from its upstream operations, as part of its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon goals.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by NNPCL on Monday night, revealing that the project, still at its conceptual stage, was the focal point of a three-day technical assistance workshop on oil and gas sector global methane abatement and decarbonization held at the PTDF Tower in Abuja.
The workshop, a follow-up to a previous one in July 2023, aimed to define critical success elements of the project.
It included discussions on determining the project’s scope, establishing a baseline for methane and carbon emissions from selected operation sites, collecting relevant data, and aiding Deloitte consultants in understanding NNPC Ltd.’s operations and expectations.
The selected pilot stage operation site for the project is OML 34, located onshore in the Western Niger Delta, encompassing the Utorogu and Ughelli Fields.
The participants in the workshop were drawn from various NNPC Ltd. subsidiaries and departments, including exploration and production, new energy, gas infrastructure, health, safety, and environment. Representatives from the National Council on Climate Change and other relevant Federal Government agencies also participated.
Sponsored by the United States Department of State Bureau of Energy Resources through the Energy and Mineral Governance Programme, the project aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Nigeria has implemented various policies and legislation, including the Climate Change Act 2021, the Nationally Determined Contributions, and the Oil and Gas Methane Regulations 2023.
Nigeria’s efforts also extend to the Energy Transition Plan 2022, focusing on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and economic diversification. The Renewable Energy Master Plan aims to increase the share of renewable energy in the national grid to 30 percent by 2030, while the Gas Flare Commercialization Programme is actively auctioning licenses to utilize flared gas, potentially reducing emissions and generating revenue.
