Dieser Bericht gibt einen Überblick über die Maßnahmen zur Eindämmung und Reduzierung von Methanemissionen im nigerianischen Öl- und Gassektor und zeigt Möglichkeiten auf, wie nationale Prioritäten mit globalen Klimazielen in Einklang gebracht und positive Nebeneffekte für die öffentliche Gesundheit und die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung erzielt werden können.
This report provides a multi-dimensional analysis of methane mitigation in Nigeria's oil and gas sector. It examines national priorities, existing policies, stakeholder roles, and financing landscapes to identify opportunities for progress and alignment with national and global climate goals.
Methane, a potent greenhouse gas with significant warming potential compared to carbon dioxide, poses a major threat to global climate goals. According to the Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) National Action Plan, Nigeria recorded an estimated 439.8 kilotons of methane emissions within the oil and gas sector.1 Notably, 27% of these emissions were associated with oil production, while a significant majority, 73%, emanated from gas production, processing, and distribution. Reducing methane emissions, particularly from this sector, offers a strategic opportunity.2 By acting, Nigeria can strengthen climate action and unlock co-benefits for public health, food security, and economic development, aligning with national and multiple sustainable development goals (SDGs).
This report demands a mixed-method research approach in combination with several tools. It is built on early-stage engagement, desk-based study, and a national stakeholder validation workshop to provide a holistic understanding of the current state, challenges, opportunities, and potential pathways for enhancing methane mitigation strategies in alignment with national priorities and global climate action imperatives.
The approach and methodology adopted for this task have been designed to make the procedure compatible with Nigeria's socio-economic context and realities. The methodology conceptualized ensures that the approach is representative and captures the entire landscape (policies, regulatory frameworks, strategies, finance, and stakeholder layout) of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
On paper, Nigeria’s existing policies are fairly coherent with the country’s international commitments and national objectives for methane mitigation and reduction. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Guidelines for Management of Fugitive Methane and Greenhouse Gases Emissions in the Upstream Oil and Gas Operations in Nigeria (NUPRC Guide 0024 - 2022) are aligned with the Global Methane Pledge's target of a 30% reduction by 2030 and are consistent with the IPCC's requirement for a 20% to 60% reduction by 2030. Similarly based on national needs, at the 2022 maiden national stakeholders’ summit on the use of satellite for tracking gas flare and emissions monitoring in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) announced a policy decision to develop a Satellite-based Methane Emission Tracking (SMET) platform to promote the use satellite remote sensing technologies for detecting, measuring, and quantifying methane emissions in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The preliminary findings reveal that there is a need for coherent and ambitious methane action plans that align with Nigeria’s national development priorities. Strategically implementing policies and regulations that incentivize low-carbon investments, promote sustainable land use practices, and foster innovation in clean technologies can accelerate progress towards climate mitigation goals.
In mind of the climate and broader societal transformation, understanding the stakeholder-landscape is vital for effective and sustainable actions around methane mitigation and reduction. The preliminary stakeholder mapping process was therefore developed using a blend of Mendelow's Matrix and the Salience Model.
Mendelow's Matrix categorizes stakeholders based on their power (influence) and interest (stake) related to the project. The Salience Model analyzes stakeholders based on their power, legitimacy, and urgency regarding the project. Table ES1 sets out the power, interest, and influence of the stakeholders on the project, using the “Mendelow and Salience Mapping Model.”
| Stakeholders | Mendelow’s Mapping | Salience’s Mapping |
|---|---|---|
| Governments, Commercial and Environmental Regulators, Policymakers | High Power/High Interest | High Salience |
| Oil and Gas Operators (Production, Processing, Transmission/Storage, Distribution) | High Power/High Interest | High Salience |
| Science & Technology Innovation (Research and Development) | Low Power/High Interest | Medium Salience |
| Public International Finance Institutions | Low Power/High Interest | Medium Salience |
| Private Corporations and Financial Institutions | Low Power/High Interest | Medium Salience |
| Civil Society Organizations, Host Communities, the International Community | Low Power/Low Interest | Low Salience |
Drawing from previous experiences and lessons learnt, the implementation of effective and sustained methane mitigation and reduction in Nigeria requires robust support and coordination among all relevant stakeholders.
C. The Financing Landscape
According to the IEA data on emissions spending needed by 2030 (ES2), US$1.5 billion will be needed between 2023 and 2030 to reduce methane emissions within Nigeria’s country’s oil and gas sector. According to the report, oil and gas majors operating in the country have a responsibility to contribute US$300 million to meet the target.
Policymakers hold the key to unlocking this vital capital at the global stage. Directing new grants and concessional resources towards the highest mitigation potential opportunities, particularly in challenging technological areas and geographical regions, can significantly impact the fight against methane emissions. However, sustainability is crucial: Sustained increases in public finance support are therefore needed to offer long-term confidence and truly unlock private investment in these hard-to-tap areas.
Nigeria encounters multifaceted obstacles in mitigating methane emissions within its oil and gas sector. They are mapped out as follows:
Implementing methane mitigation and reduction measures within Nigeria's oil and gas sector presents a myriad of opportunities with far-reaching benefits.
To chart a successful course forward in mitigating methane emissions within Nigeria's oil and gas sector, several strategic pathways should be pursued.
[34] Nigeria’s National Action Plan to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (2018). Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment. Link
[35] Ibid.
Dr. Mahmoud Ibrahim Mahmoud is an accomplished Geospatial Information and Environmental Scientist specializing in satellite remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) applications. He is currently a Senior Climate Change Fellow working on Methane Mitigation and Reduction in Nigeria with the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI). His research interests include emission detection, gas flare, spatial land-use planning, urban ecology, methane emission reduction for climate change mitigation, and environmental sustainability.
