Michael Eboh
Dublin, Ireland — Nigeria lost $1.1 billion, an equivalent of N1.493 trillion in its local currency, to gas flaring in 2025, as oil and gas companies operating in the country burnt 323 billion Standard Cubic Feet (SCF) of gas between January and December 2025, according to latest data released by the National Oil Spill Detection and Remediation Agency (NOSDRA).
NOSDRA, in its gas flare report for 2025, released recently, disclosed that the volume of gas flared in 2025 was 7.2 per cent higher than the 301.3 billion SCF (BSCF) of gas flared in 2024, which was also valued at $1.1 billion, about N1.493 billion.
The environmental impact regulator further stated that the volume of gas flared in the 12-month period of 2025 contributed 17.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; had the potential to generate 32,300 gigawatts hour (GWh) of electricity; while the offending companies were liable for penalties payment of $646.1 million, about N876.622 billion.
In comparison, NOSDRA maintained that in the 12-month period of 2024, the 301.3 billion SCF of gas flared by oil and gas firms was valued at $1.1 billion, about N1.493 trillion, with penalties payable at $602.7 million, about N818.271 billion, while it contributed 16 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, and had power generation potential of 30,100 GWh.
Providing a breakdown of gas flared data across segments of the oil-producing space in 2025, the agency reported that 206.3 billion SCF of gas was flared by oil and gas firms operating in the country’s onshore oil space, accounting for 63.8 per cent of total gas flared in the period under review, and was 18.36 per cent higher than the volume lost to gas flaring in this same segment in 2024.
NOSDRA added that the volume of gas flared onshore caused the country a loss of 20,600 GWh of electricity, and the emission of 11 million tonnes of greenhouse gases; was valued at $722 million, about N979.754 billion; while the companies were liable to pay penalties of $412.6 million, about N560.441 billion.
In comparison, the 174.3 billion SCF of gas flared in 2024 by companies operating onshore was valued at $610 million, about N827.77 billion; with penalties payable at $348.6 million, about N473.593 billion; caused the loss of power generation potential of 17,400 GWh; and contributed 9.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
On the other hand, companies operating offshore accounted for 36.2 per cent of total gas flared between January and December 2025, with 116.8 billion SCF of gas, valued at $408.7 million (N555.013 billion); penalties payable at $233.5 million (N317.538 billion); contributed 6.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emission; and eroded 11,700 GWh of electricity generation potential.
Similarly, in the same 12-month period in 2024, offshore operations emitted 6.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; caused the loss of power generation capacity of 12,700 GWh; with 127.1 billion SCF of gas flared, valued at $444.7 million (N603.865 billion), and penalties payable at $254.1 million (N344.678 billion).
NOSDRA noted that the offending companies flared gas from Oil Mining Leases (OML) 04, 05, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 22, 28, 23, 24, 38, 40, 42, 43, 72, 49, 54, 86, 90, 95, 67, 70, 104, 59, 99, 100, 101, 102, 110 and Oil Prospecting Licences (OPL) 090, 209, 212, 216, 222, 246, 316 and 306, among others.
It identified the offending companies as Shell Petroleum, Development Company (SPDC), Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Chevron Nigeria, Mobil Oil, Elf Petroleum Nigeria, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Addax Petroleum, Texaco Overseas (Nigeria), Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria, Allied Energy Resources, Ultramar Petroleum, Atlas Petroleum; Cromwell, Afric Oil and Marketing, Famfa Oil, Moni Pulo, and South Atlantic Petroleum, Star Deep Water, Summit Oil, among others.
This article was originally posted at sweetcrudereports.com
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