In a decisive move to align Nigeria’s energy sector with global climate standards, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has directed all upstream oil and gas operators to adopt advanced, measurement-based reporting for greenhouse gas (GHG) and methane emissions.
The new directive is to accelerate Nigeria’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 and reducing methane emissions by 60 percent by 2035.
The Commission’s Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, in a statement described the policy as a transition “from estimates to evidence,”.
According to him, this marks a significant shift in emission data generation and reporting.
It notes that for years, emissions reporting relied largely on generalized estimates.
“The NUPRC is now ending that era by enforcing a tiered progression in reporting accuracy based on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodologies.”
“Current Standard: Operators have been utilizing Tier 1 (basic) methodologies since 2022. The 2026 Milestone: By the third quarter of 2026, all operators must upgrade to Tier 2 reporting.” She said.
“By January 2027, the industry must fully transition to Tier 3, the highest level of reporting, which requires rigorous, site-specific measurements and verifiable data.”
“While the IPCC remains the primary benchmark, the Commission notes that operators can still align with other global frameworks like OGMP 2.0, API, and ISO, provided they meet the equivalent technical rigors.
“The NUPRC released standardized templates that are effective immediately with all upstream players now required to adopt the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management Plan (GHGEMP), and the Methane and GHG Emissions Accounting and Inventories Template.
Entrenching accountability
According to him, these measures are to entrench accountability, strengthen Nigeria’s credibility in global markets, and unlock climate-smart investors for the upstream sector,” the Commission stated.
The Commission acknowledged that transitioning to high-level Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems presents technical challenges.
“In response, the NUPRC has initiated industry-wide workshops and guidance sessions to help operators build the necessary infrastructure to meet the 2027 deadline.”
“By enforcing these “science-based and traceable” standards, Nigeria aims to prove to the global community that its fossil fuel exports are being managed with increasing environmental responsibility, specifically targeting the elimination of routine flaring by 2030.
