Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe has emphasized the critical need to balance climate action with economic realities.
He made this known while delivering an address at the Decarbonisation and Energy Sustainability Forum, DESF, held in Abuja, with the theme “Navigating the Global Energy Transition, Leveraging Decarbonisation in Nigeria’s Upstream Oil & Gas for Sustainable Value Creation”.
Komolafe observed that the stage is set for a bold national strategy to position Nigeria as a leader in the global energy transition movement.
Reflecting on the global energy landscape post Paris Agreement, he noted the growing shift toward low carbon energy solutions and the implications of dwindling oil and gas investments while recalling commitments made at COP28 and COP29.
On Nigeria’s pathway to balancing hydrocarbon wealth with climate responsibility, he re- echoed Nigeria’s net-zero commitment by 2060, thereby outlining the critical role of Nigeria’s vast hydrocarbon resources of 37.5 billion barrels of crude oil and 209.26 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in driving sustainable development.
Speaking on how Nigeria can leverage its hydrocarbon potential while embracing decarbonisation for long term prosperity, Engr. Komolafe spotlighted transformative national initiatives such as the National Gas Policy, the National Gas Expansion Programme, and the ongoing Decade of Gas (2021–2030), all of which position natural gas as a pivotal transitional fuel in Nigeria’s energy shift.
He stated that policy reforms for driving change are in place through key regulatory reforms and programmes reshaping that would reposition the sector, including the landmark Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, Initiative, and Presidential Executive Order 40 of 2024. All these he stressed out, are milestones for dismantling barriers and unlocking new growth opportunities.
He added that the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, NGFCP, is also a critical component of Nigeria’s energy sustainability efforts, converting environmental liabilities into economic assets.
Engr. Komolafe emphasized that the NUPRC has adopted decarbonisation not merely as an environmental necessity, but as a growth strategy and the Commission has institutionalized sustainability with the creation of a dedicated Energy Sustainability and Carbon Management Department, setting the tone for a forward looking upstream sector.
According to Komolafe, this approach is anchored on seven strategic pillars which are, the natural gas as a gift and transition fuel; Zero routine flaring and methane abatement; Carbon market development; Technological innovation; Operational efficiency; Incentive mechanisms and the collaborative risk management. These he said, represent the NUPRC blueprint for an energy future where investment thrives, energy security is guaranteed, and environmental responsibility is the norm.
Unveiling the new tools and regulatory frameworks, through the launch of a comprehensive decarbonisation blueprint and handbook for the upstream sector, and the guidelines for participation in the upstream oil and gas decarbonisation and carbon management programme, he explained that these regulatory frameworks are designed to translate Nigeria’s sustainability ambitions into actionable, measurable outcomes.
