Nigeria can simultaneously expand energy production and reduce greenhouse gas emissions if projects are designed with decarbonisation and appropriate technologies from the outset.
This was a key takeaway from discussions at the ongoing 2026 Nigeria Oil and Gas Energy Week in Abuja.
Speaking during a strategic panel session, the General Manager, Assets Operated by Others at TotalEnergies, Ogogome Epecham, emphasised that Nigeria’s energy transition must align with its broader development priorities.
According to her, any decarbonisation strategy should focus on three critical objectives: expanding energy access, ensuring affordability, and supporting industrialisation.
Epecham rejected the notion that economic development and emissions reduction are mutually exclusive. “We can develop an equitable pathway that integrates decarbonisation into our growth strategy,” she said.
She cited the Ubeta gas project as a practical example. Scheduled to deliver first gas in 2027, the project is expected to supply about 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to both domestic and export markets.
Epecham explained that Ubeta was designed with emissions reduction in mind from inception, incorporating measures such as eliminating routine gas flaring, deploying solar-powered systems to reduce fuel-gas emissions, and electrifying drilling operations.
She also noted that the Petroleum Industry Act provides a strong policy framework to support Nigeria’s climate and energy goals.
On methane emissions, Epecham stressed that reducing leaks is cost-effective when supported by accurate monitoring and measurement systems. She revealed that TotalEnergies uses a proprietary drone-based system, AUSEA, to detect and quantify methane emissions, complemented by permanent sensors for continuous monitoring.
This dual approach, she said, enables rapid identification of fugitive emissions, allowing operators to act quickly before losses escalate. She added that TotalEnergies recently renewed its collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to deploy the technology and has shared insights with other industry players.
Epecham further disclosed that TotalEnergies eliminated routine flaring across all its operated assets in Nigeria in 2023, making it one of the first operators in the country to achieve that milestone. She urged that future oil and gas projects embed decarbonisation measures at the design stage rather than as afterthoughts.
Also speaking on the panel, the Country Sales Director for Process Automation, Sub-Saharan Africa at Schneider Electric, Elijah Daniel, highlighted the role of digital technologies in overcoming traditional barriers to decarbonisation.
He noted that tools such as artificial intelligence, infrared methane detection cameras, predictive maintenance systems, and automation now enable continuous monitoring of facilities, reduction of emissions, and prevention of equipment failures.
Daniel added that the declining cost of cloud computing and AI has made these technologies increasingly accessible, even to indigenous operators. He pointed out that, unlike international oil companies, local firms often have shorter decision-making cycles, allowing them to adopt innovations more quickly.
He argued that Africa’s infrastructure gap presents an opportunity to leapfrog into digitally enabled energy systems, similar to the continent’s rapid adoption of mobile telecommunications and financial technology.
To achieve this, he called for stable government policies, increased investment in digital infrastructure such as data centres, and stronger development of digital skills among young professionals.
Another panellist, Umesh Amarnani of Pacegate Energy & Resources Limited, underscored the importance of local manufacturing. He said producing oilfield chemicals domestically has strengthened supply chains and reduced reliance on imports.
According to him, these chemicals are essential for maintaining oil and gas operations by preventing corrosion and scale formation. Local production, he added, enhances energy security, promotes technology transfer, and creates employment opportunities.
Amarnani, however, called for stricter enforcement of Nigeria’s local content laws, urging that contracts be awarded based on technical competence and product performance.
He also highlighted his company’s investments in staff development, profit-sharing initiatives, and education programmes, including the adoption of 50 government schools to help build future talent.
Methane Finance Advisor at the Environmental Defense Fund, Paul Boeffard, noted that Nigeria is emerging as a leader in regulatory innovation through the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme.
He explained that the programme separates flare gas from operators’ balance sheets, enabling independent developers to capture gas that would otherwise be flared and convert it into commercially viable products such as compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and liquefied natural gas.
This framework, he said, allows climate-focused investors to fund projects that reduce emissions while creating new revenue streams.
Although 28 flare gas recovery licences have been issued, Boeffard acknowledged that many developers still face challenges progressing from permits to final investment decisions. He added that the Environmental Defense Fund is supporting developers through technical advisory services and feasibility studies.
Reinforcing the importance of methane reduction, Epecham reiterated that effective management depends on accurate detection, monitoring, and measurement rather than costly technology alone. She confirmed that TotalEnergies has deployed drone-based detection systems alongside permanent monitoring sensors across its facilities and recently renewed collaboration with NNPC on the initiative.
She again highlighted the company’s achievement in eliminating routine flaring across its operated Nigerian assets in 2023, describing it as a significant milestone in its decarbonisation journey.
The panellists concluded that decarbonisation should not be viewed as a constraint on energy security, but rather as an opportunity to enhance operational efficiency, attract investment, and drive sustainable economic growth.