Nigeria loses 62,400GWh electricity as gas flaring rises 18.6%

Nigeria is facing a significant loss of potential electricity generation, estimated at 62,400 gigawatt-hours (GWh) between 2024 and 2025, primarily because of ongoing gas flaring. This figure marks an 18.6% increase from the 50,800 GWh lost in 2022, highlighting a worsening trend despite government efforts.

The practice of flaring natural gas, a byproduct of oil extraction, means that valuable energy resources are burned off instead of being captured and utilized for power generation. This not only represents a substantial waste of energy but also contributes to environmental pollution. The sheer volume of lost electricity potential could power millions of homes and industries.

Experts point to a combination of factors fueling this persistent issue. A weak domestic power market, characterized by instability and insufficient demand, discourages investment in gas infrastructure. Furthermore, a lack of robust incentives for companies to monetize the flared gas means that burning it off remains the more economically viable option for some operators, despite government penalties aimed at curbing the practice.

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Expert blames weak power market, poor gas monetisation incentives