COP31: NNPC prioritises gas, flare recovery to cut emissions

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has prioritized natural gas, flare recovery, and operational emission reduction as part of its energy transition strategy, according to a high-level panel session at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye. NNPCL's Manager, Sustainability Strategy, Standards and Policy, Philemon Yilleng, stated that gas is not just a transition fuel, but the company's destination fuel.

The company is working to establish policies, strategies, and partnerships to make decarbonisation an integral part of its operations, guided by the Petroleum Industry Act. Yilleng highlighted immediate opportunities for reducing environmental footprint, such as emission reduction, flare recovery, and process optimization. The national oil company has also adopted decarbonisation as a central element of its energy transition strategy, emphasizing the need to change operations to incorporate environmental considerations into business decisions.

NNPCL has developed policies and frameworks to guide sustainability efforts, including a measurement, reporting, and verification system. However, the company identified inadequate financing for gas development as a major obstacle to accelerating the energy transition.