In Nigeria, oil is going green. Concretely, the African country announces that it is imposing new environmental requirements on applicants for licenses and oil exploitation permits, whether African or Western.
It’s a decision that could affect Western oil companies, often criticized for their carbon footprint.
From January 1, 2025, companies wishing to exploit the country’s resources will have to prove that they emit low carbon and have a renewable energy program, announced Gbenga Komolafe, managing director of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the country’s upstream oil regulatory authority.
Why such a shift? The new policy aims to align Nigeria’s oil sector with the national goal of carbon neutrality by 2060.
To guide applicants, the NUPRC has published a model, called « Upstream Petroleum Decarbonisation Template » (UPDT).
This document details the environmental criteria that companies will have to respect to obtain the necessary authorizations.
The measure will cover all approvals in the upstream sector, including license transfers.
“Through this, the commission deepens its efforts to align the upstream oil industry with national priorities and international climate goals while ensuring sustainable value creation from oil and gas resources for energy security and economic development of the Nigeria”, Mr Komolafe said.
Oil operators will also need to implement methane management programs, including leak detection and repair.
They will be required to optimize their operations using energy-efficient technologies and integrate renewable energy sources into their projects.
