NLNG Calls for Global Action on Methane Emissions Reduction

Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd (NLNG) has called on the global gas industry to treat methane reduction as a business priority, describing emissions not merely as an environmental concern but as lost gas and lost revenue.

The company disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Port Harcourt by its General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Mrs Sophia Horsfall.

According to the statement, NLNG Managing Director Mr Adeleye Falade made the call while speaking at the ongoing Gastech 2026 Exhibition and Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, during a panel discussion titled "Capturing the Lost Opportunity: Driving Global Alignment on Methane Abatement Across Natural Gas Supply Chains."

Methane Loss as a Commercial, Not Just Environmental, Issue

Falade urged the industry to shift its focus from the cost of reducing methane to the commercial value created by preventing gas losses in the first place. "Every tonne emitted is lost product. Lost revenue and lost energy; gas we could have sold," he said.

He explained that NLNG's approach involves measuring methane losses and using the resulting data to guide investment in leak prevention and gas recovery, stressing that independent verification remains critical to ensuring credible emissions reporting and assessing the effectiveness of interventions.

The managing director cited NLNG's new boil-off gas compressor and start-up gas recovery project as examples of investments supporting methane reduction. "Each project targets methane reductions of about 10 to 15 per cent and has positive projected net present values. The project that cut our methane also pays for themselves. The same discipline that reduces methane also improves asset reliability and plant efficiency," he said.

Africa's First "Level 5" Methane Reporting Company

Falade noted that credible measurement has enabled NLNG to identify methane losses, direct resources toward appropriate interventions, and assess outcomes. He said gas producers in developing economies could similarly build globally trusted emissions-reporting systems by investing in monitoring infrastructure and independent verification.

He highlighted the company's Gold Standard recognition under the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0, disclosing that NLNG became the first company in Africa to achieve "Level 5" methane emissions reporting — the highest tier under the framework — with its measurement, reporting, and verification system independently assured by DNV, a global assurance and certification company.

According to Falade, NLNG's methane management strategy includes optical gas imaging, a structured Leak Detection and Repair programme, and continuous monitoring, alongside real-time dashboards being deployed across its plants and vessels to strengthen monitoring and response capabilities.

The NLNG executive stressed that credible measurement depends on commitment rather than geography, adding that the company has demonstrated that globally trusted systems can be successfully implemented in Africa. He further disclosed that NLNG is incorporating methane reduction directly into the design of its "Train 7" project, which is expected to raise the company's production capacity from 22 million to 30 million tonnes annually.

National Impact: Nigeria's Falling Gas-Flaring Rate

At the national level, Falade said NLNG's efforts to monetise gas that would otherwise have been flared have contributed significantly to reducing Nigeria's gas-flaring rate. "The rate had fallen from more than 65 per cent to below 20 per cent. The conversion of wasted gas into marketable products is a commercial case for emissions abatement," he said.

On climate action and energy access, Falade said NLNG's operations support Nigeria's net-zero emissions target for 2060 and its goal of zero routine flaring by 2030. He stressed that emissions reduction must progress alongside efforts to meet the energy needs of households and businesses. "Developing economies cannot be asked to choose between economic development and emissions reduction. Both must progress together," he said.