NUPRC Takes Over Digital Platform to Track Methane Emissions in Oil and Gas Sector

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has taken over a digital monitoring platform designed to strengthen methane emissions tracking and help Nigeria achieve its target of reducing emissions by 60 per cent by 2035.

The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Emission Tracker (NOGIET) combines satellite-based methane detection with facility-level measurements to help regulators identify pollution hotspots, verify operators’ reports and improve enforcement across the petroleum industry.

Platform to Strengthen Emissions Monitoring

The platform was formally handed over to the NUPRC at its headquarters in Abuja. Commission Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan was represented at the event by Executive Commissioner for Health, Safety, Environment and Community, Captain John Tonlagha.

According to a statement issued by the commission’s Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, the technology will help regulators detect inconsistencies in emissions data, prioritise inspections and monitor compliance more effectively.

Eyesan said integrating NOGIET into the commission’s regulatory and data management systems would improve the credibility and reliability of emissions reporting.

Operators Face Shift to Measurement-Based Reporting

The deployment supports the implementation of the NUPRC’s 2022 Guidelines for the Management of Fugitive Methane and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Upstream Oil and Gas Sector.

The guidelines require operators to transition from estimation-based emissions reporting to measurement-based reporting by the first quarter of 2027.

NOGIET is also intended to support Nigeria’s commitments to reducing methane emissions, ending routine gas flaring and achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.

SDN Hands Over Platform at No Cost

The platform was developed through a partnership involving the Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), with financial and technical support from the Global Methane Hub. It is designed for use by both the NUPRC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

SDN Board Chairman Inemo Samiama said the platform was transferred to the commission, including its front-end and back-end systems, at no cost. He added that using a shared monitoring system would help regulators address methane emissions across the entire oil and gas value chain.

The effectiveness of NOGIET will depend on the quality of emissions data, its integration into regulatory systems and the ability of authorities to act on the information it provides.

Punch Newspapers