The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has extended its methane reduction partnership with TotalEnergies for another 24 months, reinforcing efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and advance its target of achieving near-zero methane emissions by 2030.
The renewed agreement will sustain the deployment of the Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications (AUSEA), an advanced drone-based technology used to detect, measure and reduce methane and carbon emissions from oil and gas facilities.
The latest extension builds on an initial collaboration launched in 2023 and aligns with NNPC Ltd.’s environmental commitments under the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter (OGDC) and the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0.
The agreement was signed by NNPC’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, Mr. Udy Ntia, and TotalEnergies Country Chair and Managing Director, Mr. Matthieu Bouyer. Speaking during the signing ceremony, Ntia described the renewal as an important step in strengthening the company’s climate and sustainability agenda.
According to him, the success recorded during the first phase of the programme encouraged both organisations to expand the initiative across additional upstream assets. “Today’s signing represents a practical step in NNPC Limited’s journey to build a credible, transparent and action-oriented decarbonisation programme,” Ntia said.
He noted that the technology enhances the company’s capacity to identify, quantify and prioritise methane reduction measures through accurate measurement and monitoring systems. Ntia also disclosed that NNPC intends to strengthen progress reporting mechanisms in line with regulatory requirements while exploring opportunities for technology transfer and capacity development.
The AUSEA system is designed to identify previously undetected emission sources, improve the accuracy of emissions reporting and support corrective actions across oil and gas facilities. The technology also helps operators evaluate flare combustion efficiency and strengthen environmental performance monitoring.
Developed by TotalEnergies in collaboration with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Reims, the system uses drone-mounted sensors capable of detecting methane leaks with a high degree of precision.
TotalEnergies Senior Vice President for Africa, Mike Sangster, said the partnership reflects the company’s continued commitment to reducing emissions throughout its operations.
He stated that TotalEnergies became the first oil-producing company in Nigeria to eliminate routine gas flaring across all its assets, noting that AUSEA technology played a significant role in achieving that milestone. Sangster added that the company remains focused on achieving near-zero methane emissions by 2030 while strengthening collaboration with NNPC on environmental sustainability initiatives.
The renewed partnership highlights growing industry efforts to improve environmental accountability, reduce methane emissions and accelerate the adoption of cleaner technologies within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. By expanding the use of advanced monitoring systems, both companies aim to strengthen emissions management, improve operational transparency and support long-term decarbonisation objectives.
The extension of the methane reduction partnership between NNPC Ltd. and TotalEnergies underscores a shared commitment to environmental sustainability. Industry leaders say the expanded deployment of AUSEA technology will play a key role in reducing emissions, improving reporting accuracy and supporting Nigeria’s broader energy transition goals.
