NNPC and TotalEnergies Forge Ahead with Advanced Methane Emission Control Technology
NNPC Limited has solidified its commitment to environmental stewardship by extending its strategic partnership with TotalEnergies for an additional 24 months. This renewed agreement focuses on the widespread deployment of the Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications (AUSEA) technology. The initiative is designed to enhance the detection, measurement, and subsequent reduction of methane and carbon emissions across NNPC’s upstream operations, a critical step in aligning with its decarbonisation objectives.
This collaboration, as reported by the National Accord on June 18, 2026, builds upon an initial agreement from 2023 and is pivotal for NNPC Ltd’s efforts to meet its gas flare reduction obligations. It directly supports the company’s adherence to its Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC) commitments and its participation in the Oil & Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0 framework, underscoring a clear ambition for near-zero methane emissions by 2030. The agreement was formally executed by Udy Ntia, Executive Vice President, Upstream at NNPC Ltd, and Matthieu Bouyer, TotalEnergies Country Chair and Managing Director, at NNPC Towers in Abuja.
Udy Ntia expressed significant satisfaction with the initial phase of AUSEA deployment, highlighting its potential for broader application across NNPC’s asset portfolio. “Today’s signing represents a practical step in NNPC Limited’s journey to build a credible, transparent and action-oriented decarbonization programme,” Ntia stated. He further elaborated that the AUSEA initiative empowers the company to “detect, quantify and prioritise methane abatement opportunities using advanced measurement technology,” a crucial capability for compliance officers and legal counsel tasked with navigating evolving environmental regulations. Ntia also advocated for the institutionalisation of progress reporting mechanisms, in line with compliance requirements, and explored the potential for technology transfer of the AUSEA system.
Mike Sangster, TotalEnergies’ Senior Vice President for Africa, commended the enduring cooperation with NNPC. He noted TotalEnergies’ pioneering role as the first oil-producing company in Nigeria to achieve zero gas flaring across all its assets, a feat significantly aided by the AUSEA technology. This historical achievement positions TotalEnergies to pursue its own near-zero methane emissions target by 2030, a goal that resonates with investors and corporate executives focused on sustainable energy practices. The AUSEA technology, a product of TotalEnergies’ collaboration with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Reims, offers a comprehensive suite of environmental monitoring capabilities. It is instrumental in identifying previously unaccounted emission sources, providing a robust basis for querying and refining current emission reporting processes, and furnishing essential data for operational system reviews and corrective actions. Furthermore, it aids in the accurate estimation of flare combustion efficiency, a key metric for environmental performance.
