Nigerian National Petroleum
Company (NNPC) Limited has expressed its commitment to work with global
partners in the march towards reducing methane emissions in oil and gas
operations.
On the sidelines of the ongoing
United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP28, taking place in
Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter was
released.
The Charter calls on the oil and
gas sector to achieve the goal of reaching net-zero emissions for their own
operations by 2050. It also includes commitments to achieve near-zero methane
emissions and no routine flaring by 2030.
Speaking on the development
during a Panel Session titled: “Accelerating the Elimination of Methane
Emissions & the Decarbonisation of Oil & Gas,” NNPC Ltd’s Executive
Vice President, Upstream, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan said the Charter was a major
opportunity not just for the NNPC Ltd., but for the African sub-region.
“Africa contributes three percent to
emissions, but that does not exclude us from the consequences of the emissions.
I think the decarbonisation drive and the charter are not just ethical but also
a strategic imperative for a major African National Oil Company (NOC) like
ours.
We believe this charter is an
important one. We are committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver on
that,” Eyesan stated.
She said to achieve its near-zero
methane emissions, Nigeria has since declared this decade as Decade of Gas,
which is not only geared towards producing more gas for export, but also
towards producing gas for local economy and that of the entire African
sub-region.
“I assure you that we are open to working with
our partners towards achieving zero-flare and methane emission reduction by
2030. This fits perfectly with our dreams, and we consider it achievable,”
Eyesan added.
She described finance and
technology as the two major challenges in delivering on the provisions of the
charter, noting that for the two problems to be solved, African countries need
to work with partners who have the technology and finance.
She said NNPC Ltd. remains
committed to expanding its alternative energy sources through investment in
solar, wind, and other renewable sources.
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