Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) says it is strengthening efforts to reduce methane emissions by embedding prevention measures into facility design, upgrading assets and deploying new technologies.
Managing director and chief executive officer, Philip Mshelbila, disclosed this on Thursday during a high-level panel session at the Gastech Conference in Milan, Italy.
He said a key part of the company’s plan is the installation of a new boil-off gas compressor system, which is near completion, to capture and re-inject methane into the value chain.
Mr Mshelbila noted that NLNG, which began operations about 26 years ago to address gas flaring, has helped cut Nigeria’s flaring volumes by more than 40 percent.
He added that the company is aligning with international standards such as the OGMP 2.0 framework, where it has attained Gold Standard for two consecutive years.
“We know our baseline, we know where the leaks occur, and we measure whether our interventions are working. But the bigger challenge is how we get others in the industry to do the same. No single operator can solve this problem alone,” he said.
He stressed the role of prevention through improved plant design, pipelines, facilities and timely upgrades to reduce leaks.
According to him, 40 percent of global methane emissions occur naturally, mainly from wetlands and oceans, while the remaining 60 percent comes from human activities.
He said agriculture contributes 40 percent of the human share, while oil and gas operations account for about 21 percent.
He added that gains in oil and gas would be limited if emissions from agriculture and waste are not tackled, but urged the oil and gas sector to lead by example.
Mshelbila identified financing and weak regulatory frameworks as barriers, particularly for smaller operators in developing countries.
He called for stronger partnerships across the energy value chain, including financing models and sharing of technologies such as satellite-based detection systems.
Now in its 53rd edition, the Gastech Conference is regarded as the world’s largest platform for natural gas, LNG, hydrogen, low-carbon solutions and climate technologies.
This year’s edition was held in Milan from September 9 to 12.
