In a strategic move towards environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd.) and TotalEnergies have formalized their collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
In an official statement Chief Corporate Communications Officer NNPC Ltd Olufemi O. Soneye said the agreement focuses on the adoption and deployment of cutting-edge methane detection technology, known as Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Application (AUSEA), across all NNPC Ltd.’s upstream operations.
The milestone collaboration, a direct outcome of NNPC Ltd.’s active participation in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) held in Dubai, UAE, underscores the commitment of both entities to address the critical issue of methane emissions. The AUSEA technology will be instrumental in assessing and monitoring the levels of methane emissions from NNPC Ltd.’s upstream operations, facilitating the development of effective measures to curtail emissions and contribute to the global efforts to combat climate change.
The MoU, inked by NNPC Ltd.’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, and Managing Director and Country Chair of TotalEnergies EP Nigeria, Matthieu Bouyer, solidifies the partnership under the auspices of NNPC Ltd.’s Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mele Kyari, and TotalEnergies’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Pouyanné.
During the signing event, GCEO Mele Kyari expressed appreciation for the longstanding partnership between NNPC Ltd. and TotalEnergies, characterizing the latter as a reliable ally. He anticipates exploring further opportunities within Nigeria’s energy sector through this collaboration.
In response, Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies, commended NNPC Ltd. for its successful transition into a limited liability company. He highlighted the positive impact of the reforms, not only within NNPC Ltd. but also across the entire sector, emphasizing the vitality and progress that these changes have ushered in.
Providing insight into the practical implementation of the agreement, NNPC Ltd.’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, detailed that the pilot phase of TotalEnergies AUSEA deployment would commence on NNPC Ltd.’s owned operations. This initial phase is expected to enable the company to implement effective methane abatement measures.
Beyond methane detection, the TotalEnergies AUSEA technology brings additional advantages, including the identification of unaccounted emission sources, enhancement of current emission reporting processes, provision of data for reviewing operational systems and implementing corrective actions, and estimation of flare combustion efficiency.
The Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd., Olufemi O. Soneye, shared these developments, affirming the commitment of both entities to technological innovation for sustainable and responsible hydrocarbon production.
