The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd.) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with TotalEnergies for the implementation of a methane detection technology called Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Application (AUSEA) in all of its upstream operations. The MoU was signed as part of the NNPC’s commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.
Through this agreement, which was secured as a direct result of NNPC’s participation in the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, UAE, the company will be able to use TotalEnergies’ AUSEA technology to measure methane emissions from its upstream operations. This data will be used to develop and implement measures to reduce emissions, contributing to the global effort to combat climate change.
The MOU was signed by Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, executive vice president of NNPC’s Upstream business, and Matthieu Bouyer, managing director and country chair of TotalEnergies EP Nigeria.
At the MoU signing event, Mele Kyari, the GCEO of NNPC, expressed his excitement about the collaboration with TotalEnergies. He described the company as a “great and reliable partner” that NNPC was eager to work with on new opportunities in Nigeria’s energy sector. Kyari also expressed his optimism about the potential of the AUSEA technology to make a positive impact on reducing emissions and advancing the country’s energy transition.
In his remarks, Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, stated that the company was providing its AUSEA technology to NNPC as part of its commitment to promoting responsible hydrocarbon production. He emphasised that NNPC’s willingness to adopt this cutting-edge technology was a testament to its dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainability.
Pouyanné also commended NNPC for its successful transition into a limited liability company, noting that the reforms have brought a renewed energy and dynamism to the company and the energy sector as a whole. He stated that TotalEnergies was enthusiastic about the opportunities that the reforms would create and the benefits that they would bring to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, NNPC’s Executive Vice President for Upstream, provided additional context for the deal. He stated that the pilot phase of the AUSEA technology’s deployment would take place on NNPC’s operations and would help the company identify and address methane emission sources.
In addition to the benefits already mentioned, the TotalEnergies AUSEA technology will also help NNPC identify and address emissions sources that are currently unaccounted for, improve the accuracy of emission reporting, and measure the efficiency of flaring operations.
These features will provide valuable information that can be used to make informed decisions about how to further reduce emissions and optimize operations. It will also help NNPC to comply with existing and future environmental regulations.
