Gas
Nigeria unveils $2.2bn gas flare capture plan at COP31
The upstream petroleum regulator has presented a $2.2 billion commercialisation initiative in Antalya to curb routine flaring and attract project financing.
Key points
- NUPRC pitches flare gas projects supporting up to 250 million standard cubic feet daily.
- A new satellite-linked emissions tracker was launched at the Nigerian pavilion.
- Nigeria holds 215.19 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves alongside significant carbon storage potential.
What happened
Nigeria has presented a $2.2 billion investment proposal aimed at capturing waste gas at oil fields, according to a report by Premium Times from COP31 in Antalya, Turkey. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, stated that sites under the national gas flare commercialisation initiative could sustain projects requiring up to 250 million standard cubic feet of fuel daily.
Speaking at a side event on Wednesday, Ms Eyesan emphasized that regulatory frameworks must now translate into delivered projects and mobilized capital. Premium Times reported that the commission issued permits to 28 companies in December 2025 under the scheme. Official figures show the country burned 203.9 billion standard cubic feet of gas through flaring over the course of 2025. Although flaring declined by roughly 8.1 percent in the first quarter of 2026, the proportion of gas flared climbed to 7.48 percent by August.
The event also featured the introduction of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Emission Tracker, a satellite-connected portal designed to verify operator reports. Developed by the Stakeholder Democracy Network with backing from the Global Methane Hub, the platform will be managed jointly by the NUPRC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
Why it matters
For an economy where fuel exports accounted for 85.9 percent of merchandise exports in 2025 according to World Bank figures, improving environmental performance is vital for maintaining international competitiveness. Nigeria possesses 37.01 billion barrels of oil and condensate alongside 215.19 trillion cubic feet of gas, as disclosed by the regulator in January. Harnessing flared gas aligns with domestic energy security goals while addressing broader decarbonisation commitments under the Paris Agreement. With global energy markets referencing prices such as Henry Hub gas at $3 per MMBtu on November 11, 2026, according to US EIA data, capturing wasted resources offers commercial value alongside emissions reductions. Furthermore, utilizing depleted Niger Delta reservoirs for carbon storage could position the nation as a regional hub for carbon capture, utilisation and storage as investors scrutinise environmental metrics.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
72.9% of electricity in Nigeria came from gas in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
