Seplat Energy to End Gas Flaring in Nigeria by 2024

Through a number of gas utilisation projects, Seplat Energy Plc. has outlined intentions to end flares by 2024. Seplat Energy’s chief executive officer, Roger Brown, said that the company’s top priority is to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced by direct operations.

He added that Seplat Energy has established a wide range of investment activities aimed at lowering emissions from its operated facilities and offsetting residual emissions.

At the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum 2023, Brown, the Chief Operations Officer of Seplat Energy, represented Samson Ezugworie said that Seplat Energy’s Flares Out project, which is a component of its commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050, is on track to meet the target of ending routine flares by the end of 2024.

In 2022, improvements in the performance of the AG compressor in Oben and Amukpe, alongside regular asset integrity checks and other facility improvement activities, were effective. AG flare volume was reduced by 18.2 per cent at Oben (5.7 MMscfd against 6.97 MMscfd in 2021) and by 39.9 per cent at Amukpe (1.1 MMscfd against 1.83 MMscfd in 2021).

He said: “Our diesel replacement programme seeks to increase the use of gas, a less carbon-intensive fuel for power generation and where feasible, solar power is also being considered.

“We are piloting solar at our Amukpe warehouse to power equipment on site and plan to power the security outposts around our operations using solar energy in 2023.

“The company has committed $11.5 million in 2023 towards projects ending frequent flares in our operations, including $10.8million towards installing gas compression facilities at the flow stations in Amukpe, Oben and Sapele and $0.7 million towards incineration at the Amukpe flow station,” said Brown.

Following the completion of these projects, Seplat Energy anticipates increasing its gas handling capacity and decreasing flares by roughly 30 MMscfd in 2023 and 20 MMscfd in 2024. As a result, flare gas will be monetised in accordance with Seplat Energy’s corporate strategy and the national flare gas commercialization program.

He also emphasized the firm’s robust and unyielding dedication to sustainability and the transition to clean energy. He clarified that a strong ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) framework, which serves as the basis for Seplat Energy’s gas business and decarbonization programs, is essential for the company to continue holding the top spot in the Nigerian gas market.