Methane Reduction: FG Advocates More Investment In Research, Devt

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

Stakeholders at the official launch of Briefing Note on Strengthening Methane Emissions in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector in Abuja on Tuesday. 

The Federal Government has advocated for more investment in Research and Development (R&D) as the  surest means of reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector. 

Director-General of National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) Dr. Nkeiruka Maduekwe stated this on Tuesday at a one-day Multi Stakeholder Dialogue on 'Strengthening Methane Emissions Strategies in Nigeria’s Gas Expansion Plans to Achieve a Sustainable Just Energy Transition' in Abuja.

It was organised by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in partnership with Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). 

News Rider reports that methane is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and exacerbates climate crisis such as increased heatwaves, floods and outbreak of diseases. 

This is even as methane emissions contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, which is a hazardous air pollutant and greenhouse gas.

Maduekwe noted that the conversation with stakeholders was imperative as methane is the second largest greenhouse gas emissions that influences climate change issues. 

She pointed out that over 30 percent of the emissions is derived from the natural ecosystems, though human actions like fossil fuel productions and operations,  livestock agriculture and rice farming contribute as high as over 60 percent to methane emissions. 

The DG noted that gas flaring is a major contributor to methane emissions, saying that the conversation was crucial as Nigeria being a fossil fuel producing country, generates more foreign revenue from the oil and gas sector. 

She said: "We have vast natural gas reserves which is the associated natural gas but we are yet to tap into the non-associated natural gas which has more reserves than the associated natural gas. 

"When we talk about the energy transition plan, we are talking about using gas as our energy transition fuel, which the country has in abundance."

Maduekwe maintained that methane conversation is critical to Nigeria's social and economic development plans. 

Unwavering Commitment 

The Director of Programs, CJID, Mr Akintunde Babatunde disclosed that Nigeria’s commitment to a just energy transition is unwavering, as reflected in the Paris Agreement and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). 

He stated that the NDCs, 2050 long-term vision for Nigeria, and Energy Transition Plan (ETP) provide clear pathways for transitioning from a fossil fuel-driven economy to a low-carbon one. 

Babatunde hinted that the plans were not merely aspirations but concrete steps toward achieving a sustainable future for the nation.

Nigeria's 2050 long-term vision sets a bold ambition to reduce emissions by 50 percent and move toward net-zero emissions across all sectors in a gender-responsive manner.

Also, the ETP is a pathway to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2060 and to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty, with a focus to reduce emissions across five critical sectors and leverage gas as a transition fuel. 

He hinted that the initiatives are crucial for sustainable development despite the challenges in balancing the gas expansion ambitions and the need to mitigate environmental and social risks.

Expansion Plans

In his presentation on 'Strengthening Methane Emissions in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector', Program Officer of NRGI, Mr Ahmad Abdulsamad noted that Nigeria is ranked as a country with the ninth-largest gas reserves globally. 

He informed that the country accounted for 16 percent of sub-Saharan African methane emissions from 2010 to 2020. 

As the Federal Government plans to expand domestic gas use and exports, Abdulsamad sought for concerted efforts to prevent increased methane emissions from the oil and gas sector.

He lamented that unchecked oil and gas sector methane emissions exacerbate climate change crisis, and harm community health and safety. 

Abdulsamad was optimistic that this singular action could undermine Nigeria’s capacity to trade in the global market and weaken the proceeds that would be used to sustain the economy.

Energy Transition 

The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Dr Orji Ogbannaya Orji noted that Nigeria has determined to leverage its abudundant gas reserves for the energy transition. 

This, he said could be achieved by bridging the $20 billion annual infrastructure deficit as revealed by the former Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources, Timipre Silva. 

"As Nigeria expands her gas use, so does the potential for increase in methane emissions, a greenhouse gas is 80 times more potent than carbon, posing a challenge for Nigeria to meet its global and national commitments to reducing methane emissions.  

"We all need to recognise the urgency of addressing methane emissions within Nigeria's oil and gas sector as the cost to human life and the environment are clear."

Orji hinted that with new European Union regulations excluding petroleum products from high emitting countries, that Nigeria is at the risk of loosing revenues needed for economic development and energy transition from its major trade partner. 

He harped on the need for effective mitigation measures that would be beneficial for all stakeholders and guarantee conducive environment and sound economy.

However, with adequate investment in infrastructure and  support from all the stakeholders including development partners, Nigeria would attain the 2060 deadline on Energy Transition Plan (ETP).