Investigation says NUPRC has not fully enforced Nigeria’s anti-flaring law

Summary

Premium Times says delays in regulation and weak enforcement have left gas flaring and methane emissions inadequately controlled nearly five years after the law was enacted.

Highlights

• The report says the Petroleum Industry Act was meant to strengthen planning, monetisation and enforcement around gas flaring and methane emissions.
• It says every producer of natural gas was required to submit a flare elimination and monetisation plan.
• The report says NUPRC signed the relevant gas flaring, venting and methane emissions regulations in May 2023, with gazetting following in July 2023.
• It says the regulator introduced a new six-month deadline for companies after the original statutory timeline had already passed.
• The investigation says gaps in methane measurement and enforcement have left affected communities exposed.