NNPC and TotalEnergies Strengthen Partnership to Cut Methane Emissions with Tech Innovation
Strategic Partnership for Environmental Sustainability
NNPC Limited has taken a significant step forward in its commitment to environmental sustainability by renewing its agreement with TotalEnergies. This renewal extends the deployment of the Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications (AUSEA) technology for another 24 months. The initiative aims to detect, measure, and reduce methane and carbon emissions across NNPC's upstream operations.
This agreement is a continuation of an earlier partnership signed in 2023, which marked the adoption of AUSEA technology. The renewed collaboration aligns with NNPC Ltd’s efforts to meet its obligations under the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC), participation in the Oil & Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0, and its ambition to achieve near-zero methane emissions by 2030.
The agreement was officially signed by NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, Udy Ntia, and TotalEnergies’ Country Chair and Managing Director, Matthieu Bouyer, at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Wednesday. This event highlighted the importance of this partnership in advancing environmental goals within the oil and gas sector.
Enhancing Environmental Monitoring and Reporting
During the signing ceremony, Udy Ntia expressed his satisfaction with the initial phase of the AUSEA technology deployment. He emphasized the need to scale this technology across more assets to maximize its impact. Ntia also stressed the importance of institutionalizing progress reporting to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and to explore opportunities for transferring the AUSEA technology.
“Today’s signing represents a practical step in NNPC Limited’s journey to build a credible, transparent, and action-oriented decarbonization programme,” Ntia stated. “Through the AUSEA initiative, we are strengthening our ability to detect, quantify, and prioritize methane abatement opportunities using advanced measurement technology.”
He further called for a structured approach to progress reporting, highlighting the potential benefits of leveraging the AUSEA technology for long-term environmental monitoring and improvement.
Commitment to Sustainable Practices
TotalEnergies’ Senior Vice President, Africa, Mr. Mike Sangster, expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing cooperation between the two companies. He noted that TotalEnergies was the first oil-producing company in Nigeria to end gas flaring across all its assets. The AUSEA technology played a crucial role in achieving this milestone, and the company remains committed to reducing methane emissions to near-zero levels by 2030.
Technological Innovation for Emission Control
The AUSEA technology, developed by TotalEnergies in collaboration with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Reims, represents a cutting-edge solution for environmental monitoring. This drone-based system is designed to identify unaccounted emission sources, establish a foundation for querying and improving current emission reporting processes, and provide data to review operational systems and implement corrective actions.
Additionally, the technology helps estimate flare combustion efficiency, enabling more accurate assessments of emissions from industrial activities. This data-driven approach ensures that companies can make informed decisions to minimize their environmental footprint.
Conclusion
The renewed partnership between NNPC Limited and TotalEnergies underscores a shared commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable practices. By leveraging advanced technologies like AUSEA, both organizations are taking meaningful steps toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to global climate goals.
As the deployment of AUSEA continues, it is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing transparency, improving emission reporting, and driving innovation in the oil and gas sector. This collaboration serves as a model for other industry players looking to adopt similar technologies and strategies for a more sustainable future.
