NNPC and Oando Join Global Initiative to End Routine Gas Flaring
Nigerian energy firms commit to decarbonization targets despite rising national gas flaring volumes.
1Global Decarbonization Commitment
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Oando have joined the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter. This global initiative aims to eliminate routine gas flaring by 2030. Signatories commit to achieving net-zero operational emissions by 2050, focusing on near-zero upstream methane emissions to align with international climate change mitigation standards.
2Rising Flaring Trends
Despite these high-level commitments, Nigeria continues to record significant increases in gas flaring volumes. Data shows the country flared 6.6 billion cubic metres in 2025, up from 6.1 billion in 2024 and 5.1 billion in 2023. This upward trajectory persists despite the national pledge to end routine flaring by 2030.
3Charter Progress Report
The 2026 Status Report released at COP31 highlights that 41 signatory companies now possess formal action plans to eliminate routine flaring. This represents a 78 per cent increase from the 2024 baseline. Currently, 57 companies operating in over 100 countries participate, representing one-third of total global oil and gas production.
4Financial and Technical Investment
Thirty-five signatory companies have allocated specific capital toward achieving interim emissions-reduction targets. In 2025, 34 companies reported $28 billion in lower-carbon investments and acquisitions. Furthermore, 21 companies now utilize direct measurement technologies for most reported methane emissions, marking a shift toward more rigorous, data-driven verification of their environmental operational footprints.
5Regulatory Enforcement Challenges
Nigeria faces persistent difficulties in enforcing existing regulations intended to curb methane emissions and flaring. Investigations indicate that weak regulatory oversight and inadequate infrastructure undermine climate goals. Additionally, the divestment of assets by international oil companies to indigenous operators has complicated the transfer of environmental liabilities and ongoing compliance monitoring.
6Transparency and Disclosure Gaps
Transparency remains a significant hurdle for the sector. Only 15 of 62 companies covered by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative audit submitted emissions data. This poor disclosure rate poses a risk to national climate commitments. Many companies continue to operate without facing sanctions for violating established gas-flaring regulations and reporting requirements.
7Corporate Accountability Concerns
Independent investigations have challenged claims made by major operators regarding their flaring status. Satellite data analysis identified persistent flare activity at assets where companies declared zero routine flaring. These discrepancies highlight the gap between corporate climate pledges and actual field operations, raising questions about the effectiveness of current self-reported emissions data.
8Technical Support Initiatives
The Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter secretariat is scaling up support to bridge the implementation gap. Over 4,000 professionals from signatory companies have participated in technical workshops and training programs. These efforts aim to help operators identify emission sources, prioritize interventions, and accelerate the transition toward more sustainable production methods.
9Future Implementation Outlook
With only four years remaining until the 2030 deadline, the focus is shifting from planning to project delivery. The initiative emphasizes the need for more complete data and the scaling of proven technical solutions. Success depends on whether Nigerian operators can effectively translate these global commitments into measurable, verified reductions on-site.