Nigerian Oil Giant Ends Routine Gas Flaring by 2025

One of Nigeria's biggest energy companies just made good on a promise that could reshape the country's environmental future.

Seplat Energy announced it completed all projects needed to end routine gas flaring across its onshore oil operations in 2025. For decades, oil companies in Nigeria have burned off natural gas that comes up during drilling, wasting energy and releasing harmful emissions into the air.

CEO Roger Brown shared the milestone at a climate event in Lagos organized by the Nigerian Exchange Group. He emphasized that the real question isn't whether Nigeria should produce oil and gas, but how responsibly companies do it.

"Very soon, we will be able to clearly state that routine flaring has ended in our onshore operations," Brown said. "This is an important milestone that speaks to our stewardship of the environment."

The company uses real-time monitoring across its pipelines, valves, and plants to track emissions. A dedicated asset integrity program helps identify and eliminate problems before they start.

The Ripple Effect

Seplat isn't stopping at flaring. In one community in Edo State, the company launched a five-year program to plant millions of trees, with the first phase already complete.

The company also redirected LPG that used to be exported overseas back to Nigerian communities. More available LPG means families can move away from burning firewood and charcoal, which produce far more pollution and require cutting down forests.

Brown pointed to an even bigger opportunity. Nigeria's national grid only provides about five gigawatts of electricity, forcing most people and businesses to run diesel and petrol generators that spew emissions. Replacing those with gas-powered energy could dramatically cut carbon output, but only if financing becomes available for these projects.

The announcement came as Nigeria launched its Net-Zero Programme, designed to help companies create climate action plans that meet global investor standards. The initiative could unlock up to $3.1 billion in climate funding for Nigerian businesses.

As Africa's largest oil producer wrestles with balancing energy needs and environmental responsibility, Seplat's completion of its anti-flaring projects shows that progress is possible when companies commit to measurable action.