The Nigeria LNG Ltd. (NLNG) says it has joined the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0), a partnership coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to reduce methane emissions.
The International Energy Agency (IEA), in its Global Methane Tracker 2022, said Methane is responsible for around 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the industrial revolution.
It added that “rapid and sustained reductions in methane emissions are key to limit near-term warming and improve air quality.”
In a statement yesterday, the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, NLNG, Andy Odeh, said the partnership would improve the accuracy and transparency of methane emissions reporting, and a further step in company’s commitment to decarbonisation.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NLNG, Dr Philip Mshelbila, was quoted as saying that the company had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UNEP in the last quarter of 2022, to reduce methane emissions from its operations as part of its decarbonisation journey.
He said NLNG was proudly committing to annual reporting and phased reduction of its methane emissions, and decarbonisation to secure a future for the company and its stakeholders through a cleaner and greener energy mix that will include gas.
He added that NLNG was already implementing a comprehensive programme for reporting and reducing its methane emissions, utilising the latest industry technologies to track its progress and performance.
The OGMP is recognised globally as the most significant voluntary initiative for companies in the oil and gas industry to systematically reduce their methane emissions and demonstrate the reduction in a credible manner to all stakeholders.
Mshelbila noted that NLNG’s decarbonisation journey would strengthen customers’ and stakeholders’ trust in its ability to take responsibility for the environment in which it operates and to remain competitive globally.
“The OGMP is recognised globally as the most significant voluntary initiative for companies in the oil and gas industry to systematically reduce their methane emissions and demonstrate the reduction in a credible manner to all stakeholders,” Mshelbila said.
In a message to welcome NLNG, the group expressed excitement over the company’s membership as Nigeria is a significant producer of natural gas and one of the biggest contributors to Africa’s LNG production.
“OGMP 2.0 covers 55% of Africa’s oil and gas production. Seventy-five per cent of all methane emissions from oil and gas companies in the continent can be mitigated; 45% of them at no net cost. To meet that target, we invite other companies in the sector to follow the steps of NLNG and join OGMP 2.0,” the group said.