Key points
- NNPC Ltd and TotalEnergies have renewed a 24-month agreement to expand methane and carbon emission monitoring.
- The partnership will extend deployment of AUSEA technology across NNPC upstream operations.
- The initiative supports Nigeria’s gas flare reduction and near-zero methane emissions target by 2030.
- The agreement builds on an initial partnership signed in 2023.
- The technology helps detect, measure and reduce unaccounted emissions from oil and gas operations.
Main Story
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has renewed its partnership with TotalEnergies for a 24-month extension of technology deployment aimed at detecting, measuring and reducing methane and carbon emissions across upstream oil and gas operations.
The agreement was signed in Abuja by NNPC Ltd.’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, Udy Ntia, and TotalEnergies Country Chair and Managing Director, Matthieu Bouyer. According to a statement issued by NNPC Ltd.’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the renewed partnership will expand the use of the Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications (AUSEA) technology across more operational assets. The initiative is designed to support NNPC Ltd.’s commitments under the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter, its participation in the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, and its ambition to achieve near-zero methane emissions by 2030.
The agreement follows an earlier deal signed in 2023 for the initial adoption of the technology.
Speaking on the development, Ntia said the renewed collaboration represents a practical step in strengthening Nigeria’s decarbonisation efforts. He said the AUSEA initiative enhances the company’s ability to detect and quantify methane emissions and identify areas where reductions can be achieved. Ntia also called for stronger reporting systems and the possibility of scaling the technology across more assets.
TotalEnergies Senior Vice President for Africa, Mike Sangster, expressed satisfaction with the ongoing collaboration with NNPC Ltd. He noted that TotalEnergies was the first oil producing company in Nigeria to eliminate gas flaring across its assets, adding that the AUSEA technology played a key role in that achievement. Sangster said the company remains committed to achieving near-zero methane emissions by 2030.
The AUSEA technology, developed by TotalEnergies in partnership with the French National Centre for Scientific Research and the University of Reims, uses drone-based systems to identify and measure emission sources. It also provides data to improve operational systems, enhance reporting accuracy and assess flare combustion efficiency.
The Issues
- Methane emissions from oil and gas operations.
- Nigeria’s compliance with global decarbonisation and methane reduction commitments.
- Expansion of emission monitoring technologies across upstream assets.
- Need for improved transparency and reporting in emissions data.
- Scaling environmental technology partnerships in the energy sector.
What’s Being Said
- NNPC EVP Upstream, Udy Ntia, said: “Today’s signing represents a practical step in NNPC Limited’s journey to build a credible, transparent and action-oriented decarbonisation programme.”
- He added: “Through the AUSEA initiative, we are strengthening our ability to detect, quantify and prioritise methane abatement opportunities using advanced measurement technology.”
- TotalEnergies’ Mike Sangster said: “TotalEnergies was the first oil producing company in Nigeria to end gas flaring in all its assets.”
What’s Next
- Expansion of AUSEA technology deployment across more NNPC upstream operations.
- Strengthening of emissions monitoring and reporting systems.
- Progress tracking toward Nigeria’s 2030 methane reduction target.
- Continued collaboration between NNPC Ltd and TotalEnergies on decarbonisation initiatives.
Bottom Line
The renewed NNPC–TotalEnergies partnership signals a continued push toward reducing methane and carbon emissions in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, with technology-driven monitoring expected to play a central role in meeting climate and energy transition goals.
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