Nigeria Launches Decarbonisation Group, Reaffirms 2030 Gas Flaring Ban

Nigeria has officially inaugurated the Joint Decarbonisation Working Group (JDWG) for its oil and gas sector, signaling a renewed commitment to environmental sustainability alongside economic development. The initiative reaffirms the nation's pledge to eliminate routine gas flaring by 2030 and strategically position natural gas as its primary transition fuel.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, stated at the inauguration in Abuja that the JDWG will serve as a coordinated platform. It aims to bring together government bodies, regulators, industry players, and development partners to advance decarbonization efforts within the petroleum industry. Ekpo emphasized that this is a landmark initiative designed to bolster institutional collaboration and ensure Nigeria's industrial sector remains competitive globally while pursuing its sustainability objectives.

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Nigeria is blessed with significant volumes of natural gas resources. Natural gas remains Nigeria’s transition fuel and our objective under the Renewed Hope Agenda is clear. We have committed ourselves to transforming this abundant resource into industrial growth, expanding energy access, employment opportunities, cleaner cooking solutions, increased domestic utilization and greater prosperity for our people.

Ekpo highlighted Nigeria's abundant natural gas resources, stating, "Natural gas remains Nigeria’s transition fuel and our objective under the Renewed Hope Agenda is clear. We have committed ourselves to transforming this abundant resource into industrial growth, expanding energy access, employment opportunities, cleaner cooking solutions, increased domestic utilization and greater prosperity for our people."

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Today, decarbonisation has become far more than an environmental obligation. It is now an economic imperative, an investment imperative and a competitiveness imperative. If we are to remain a preferred destination for responsible energy investment, we must continue building institutions, policies and regulatory systems that inspire confidence while preserving our sovereign rights to utilise our natural resources for national growth.

The minister stressed that decarbonization has transcended environmental obligation, becoming an economic and investment imperative. "Today, decarbonisation has become far more than an environmental obligation. It is now an economic imperative, an investment imperative and a competitiveness imperative," Ekpo said. He added that to remain an attractive destination for responsible energy investment, Nigeria must build institutions, policies, and regulatory systems that inspire confidence while safeguarding its sovereign right to utilize its resources for national growth.

Ekpo also reaffirmed Nigeria's support for global efforts to reduce methane emissions from fossil fuel operations. He asserted that climate ambition must align with development ambition, stating, "No country should be forced to choose between lifting its people out of poverty and protecting the environment. Nigeria will continue to pursue both." The working group is expected to strengthen policy coordination and improve measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification systems.

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Climate ambition must go hand in hand with development ambition. No country should be forced to choose between lifting its people out of poverty and protecting the environment. Nigeria will continue to pursue both.