NLNG Urges Global Unity to Tackle Methane Emissions
Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has called for stronger international collaboration to curb methane emissions and accelerate global climate action.
The company’s Managing Director, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, made the appeal during a panel session at the Gastech Exhibition and Conference in Milan, Italy, where the discussion centred on “Advancing Progress on Methane Abatement Through Strategic Cooperation and the Mobilisation of Finance and Technologies.”
Mshelbila underscored the urgency of methane reduction, stressing its greater warming effect compared to carbon dioxide (CO₂) despite its shorter atmospheric lifespan. He explained that about 40% of methane emissions are natural, while 60% come from human activity, with agriculture responsible for 40% of that share and waste contributing 20%.
“Globally, oil and gas account for 21 per cent of total methane emissions from fossil fuels, making the sector a critical focus for intervention,” he said.
He identified coal mining, flaring, venting, and incomplete combustion as major sources of fossil fuel-related methane, noting that these demand targeted solutions. To address the challenge, he outlined three pillars—prevention, detection, measurement, and intervention.
“If you cannot measure it, you cannot know how well you are performing,” he added.
Highlighting the severity of methane’s impact, he explained that although methane lasts around 12 years in the atmosphere, it is more than 80 times as potent as CO₂, making it a “fast-track” route to slowing global warming.
Mshelbila urged greater support for small-scale producers and transporters who often lack resources to adopt advanced monitoring technologies. He also stressed that while carbon policies are well established, methane regulations remain weak in many developing countries.
On NLNG’s role, he noted that the company has helped cut Nigeria’s gas flaring by more than 40% since its inception.
“Methane is energy. It is good as long as you keep it in-pipe. NLNG was created to monetise associated gas that was previously flared during oil production,” he said.
According to him, NLNG continues to invest in advanced tracking systems, has joined the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP), and is working toward Gold Standard certification. He further disclosed that a boil-off gas compressor would soon be inaugurated to rechannel methane that would otherwise be lost.
He concluded by stressing the need for inclusive frameworks, global partnerships, and financial access to scale up solutions like satellite-based detection, which he said could transform the entire industry.
