The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has identified natural gas development, gas flare recovery and operational efficiency as major priorities in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance Nigeria’s energy transition.
The national oil company said natural gas would remain central to its long-term energy strategy, describing it not merely as a transition fuel but as a major component of Nigeria’s future energy supply.
The company’s Manager of Sustainability Strategy, Standards and Policy, Philemon Yilleng, disclosed this during a high-level panel discussion on decarbonising Africa’s energy value chain at the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.
Yilleng explained that NNPC was developing policies, strategies and partnerships to make environmental sustainability an integral part of its operations while protecting Nigeria’s energy security, economic growth and commercial interests.
He said the company considered natural gas a cleaner alternative that could support the country’s energy needs while helping to reduce emissions.
According to him, NNPC’s approach is guided by the Petroleum Industry Act, which requires the company to balance energy security, environmental responsibility and commercial viability.
He identified gas flare recovery, emissions reduction and improved operational processes as some of the immediate measures the company was pursuing to minimise its environmental impact.
Yilleng also stressed that decarbonisation had become a central component of NNPC’s energy transition strategy, noting that the company was moving away from conventional business practices towards operations that place greater emphasis on environmental protection.
He disclosed that NNPC had established policies and frameworks to guide its sustainability commitments, including a measurement, reporting and verification system designed to monitor emissions and assess progress.
The company is also collaborating with regulatory agencies, joint venture partners and financial institutions to ensure that its environmental commitments translate into practical improvements across its operations.
However, Yilleng identified inadequate financing for gas development as one of the major obstacles to accelerating Nigeria’s energy transition.
He maintained that the country’s substantial natural gas resources could help address energy poverty, support industrialisation and strengthen national energy security if sufficient investments were made available.
He called for increased financial support for gas projects, arguing that developing the resource would help bridge the gap between energy demand and supply while supporting economic growth.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Carbon Limits, Stephanie Saunier, acknowledged the progress NNPC had made in developing its emissions measurement, reporting and verification framework over the past 12 to 18 months.
She described the progress as significant but emphasised the need for the company to strengthen its efforts through actual field measurements to improve the reliability and credibility of its emissions data.
Similarly, Celina Evbuomwan, Assistant Director and Head of Environment Management and Sustainability at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, identified inadequate technology, infrastructure and funding as major challenges affecting efforts to reduce emissions.
She explained that the limited infrastructure around some gas-producing facilities had made it difficult for operators to recover flared gas and transport it for electricity generation and industrial applications.
Evbuomwan added that the recently introduced National Gas Transportation Network Code was expected to improve access to information on gas availability, existing infrastructure and transportation tariffs.
Also speaking at the session, Anish De, KPMG’s Partner and Head of Energy and Natural Resources for Africa, highlighted the important role national oil companies could play in accelerating the continent’s energy transition.
He said such companies were strategically positioned to provide essential infrastructure, attract investments and deploy technologies needed to support Africa’s efforts towards a more sustainable energy future.
The discussions at COP31 highlighted the importance of financing, infrastructure development, technological innovation and stronger partnerships in reducing emissions while ensuring that Africa’s energy needs and economic development priorities are not overlooked.
