The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has projected that the country could increase crude oil production to 1.9 million barrels per day (mbpd), as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and TotalEnergies intensify efforts to cut methane emissions through advanced technologies.
Production Recovery and Constraints
Speaking during a meeting with the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) in Abuja, NUPRC Chief Executive Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan stated that Nigeria achieved a peak production of 1.86mbpd in May, signaling steady recovery. She acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly infrastructure and asset integrity, but expressed confidence in addressing them.
“We are back to production. We are ramping up now, and we want to continue working. We still recognise the constraints, particularly infrastructure and asset integrity, but we will address them,” Eyesan said.
She emphasized that human capacity development is critical for sustaining growth, and the industry must expand its workforce capabilities to meet operational demands. The Commission is focused on creating an enabling environment for operators, which will ultimately translate to higher revenues.
Collaboration with NRS
The meeting reinforced collaboration between NUPRC and NRS to improve transparency and accountability in oil and gas revenue collection, following the transfer of certain revenue functions under the new NRS Act.
NNPCL and TotalEnergies Renew Partnership
Meanwhile, NNPCL has renewed its partnership with TotalEnergies to extend the deployment of the Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications (AUSEA) technology for another 24 months. The agreement was signed in Abuja by NNPC’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, Mr Udy Ntia, and TotalEnergies Country Chair, Mr Matthieu Bouyer.
This initiative aims to enhance methane detection, measurement, and reduction across upstream operations. It builds on an earlier agreement signed in 2023 and aligns with NNPC’s commitment to the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter, the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0, and its target of achieving near-zero methane emissions by 2030.
Ntia stated that the AUSEA initiative represents a significant step in strengthening NNPC’s decarbonisation strategy. “Through the AUSEA initiative, we are improving our ability to detect, quantify and prioritise methane abatement opportunities using advanced measurement technology,” he said. He also called for institutionalising progress reporting and greater technology transfer to support long-term sustainability.
