Abuja, May 24, 2024 – The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to end gas flaring in the country by 2030.
The Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, said this in Abuja at the inaugural workshop on quarterly reporting of utilisation efforts and initiatives toward the reduction of carbon footprints (emissions) in Nigeria.
He said data showed that from 2016 till date, 1.621 billion metric tonnes of gas worth 5.654 billion dollars had been flared.
Salako said the volume of gas flared had moved toward 86 million metric tonnes of Carbon (CO2) and 31.3 million tonnes of methane to the atmosphere.
He said the Ministry was determined to change this scenario which was in line with the commitment of the country to end gas flaring by 2030.
“I seek cooperation of all stakeholders in the oil and gas industry within the upstream sector to achieve this,” he said.
The minister said efforts of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) led to the development of a mechanism for fact-checking gas flared volumes.
He said this was a crucial step in enhancing accountability and revenue generation within the sector.
“By advocating for a Hybrid Emissions Data Gathering Approach which combines satellite and ground-based data.
“We ensure the accuracy and reliability of our emission reports.
“Data extracted from the gas flare shows that from 2016 to date, 1.621 billion metric tonnes of gas worth 5.654 billion dollars has been flared, pushing 86 million metric tonnes of Carbon (CO2) and 31.3 million tonnes of methane to the atmosphere.
“This, of course, is an unacceptable scenario environmentally and economically,” he said.
Idris Musa the out- going Director- General, NOSDRA, said that since inception,the agency had been at the forefront of efforts to combat oil and gas pollution.
He said that NOSDRA was also at the forefront of championing a technology- driven approach to environmental regulations.
Musa said the introduction of the Nigerian Gas Flare Tracker (NGFT) as a tool stood as shining example of the agency’s commitment to invocation and excellence.
“This state – of – the art platform not only identifies and quantifies gas flare emissions but also provides invaluable data and insights to government agencies for informed decision-making,” he said.
