Oil, Gas stakeholders urge stronger policies on methane emissions

Industry stakeholders have called for stronger policies and enforcement on methane emissions within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) were specifically urged to take action.

This call was made in a communique issued following a multi-stakeholder dialogue in Abuja, focused on “Strengthening Methane Emissions Reduction Strategies in Nigeria’s Gas Expansion Plans for a Just Energy Transition.” The Centre for Journalism Innovation Development (CJID) produced the communique, which was released by Adebowale Adedigba, Project Manager for the Health Journalism Project, on Friday.

Stakeholders emphasized the need for NUPRC and NMDPRA to enhance regulatory frameworks on methane emissions, ensuring strict enforcement and third-party verification by companies. They also urged the Federal Government and the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) to secure funding for methane reduction initiatives, proposing partnerships with international financial institutions such as the World Bank and African Development Bank.

The communique also highlighted the importance of exploring innovative financing mechanisms like green bonds, carbon credits, and public-private partnerships. Additionally, it called for gender inclusivity in energy policies, advocating for policies that address disparities and create opportunities for women in the workforce.

Further recommendations included the development of improved Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems for the oil and gas sector, engaging stakeholders in creating comprehensive leak detection and repair programs, and deploying advanced technologies for efficient leak detection. Strengthening civil society organizations to monitor and hold companies and the government accountable for methane emissions was also emphasized.

The multi-stakeholder meeting, organized by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) in partnership with CJID and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, also saw the unveiling of a new briefing paper titled “Strengthening Methane Emissions Reductions in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector.”