Vom Abfall zum Gewinn: Eine nationale Strategie zur Methanminderung und Verwertung in Nigeria

Nigeria wastes an estimated 250–300 million standard cubic feet per day of gas through flaring and leakage, representing an annual economic loss of USD 1.2–2.5 billion. The policy brief argues that capturing at least 50% of this wasted methane could unlock USD 1.5–2 billion in annual value and create 50,000–80,000 technical jobs. The proposed strategy focuses on a phased approach from 2026 to 2033, prioritising measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) and the conversion of methane into power, CNG, and micro-LNG. To succeed, the document recommends establishing a Methane Governance Council to resolve regulatory fragmentation and integrating the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) into the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) framework.

• Nigeria suffers significant economic losses due to methane emissions in the oil and gas sector, with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) estimating a waste of 250–300 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) through flaring and leakage. This waste is valued at USD 1.2–1.4 billion annually at domestic prices, and over USD 2.5 billion when valued as liquified natural gas (LNG).
• Capturing and commercialising at least 50% of currently wasted methane could generate USD 1.5–2 billion in annual value and create between 50,000 and 80,000 specialised technical jobs. Potential uses for this captured gas include power generation, CNG, micro-LNG, petrochemical feedstocks, and high-performance computing applications like AI and Bitcoin mining.
• The document outlines a phased implementation timeline: 2026 focuses on deploying MRV systems and pilot projects; 2027–2029 focuses on scaling gas-to-power and CNG/micro-LNG infrastructure; and 2030–2033 aims to phase out routine flaring and remediate abandoned wells.
• A fragmented regulatory landscape is a primary barrier to investment. The document recommends a structural review of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the integration of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) into the PIA framework, alongside the creation of a Methane Governance Council.

APA

Mahmoud, M. I. (2026). Vom Abfall zum Gewinn: Eine nationale Strategie zur Methanminderung und Verwertung in Nigeria. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/de/vom-abfall-zum-gewinn-eine-nationale-strategie-zur-methanminderung-und-verwertung-in-nigeria-en

Chicago

Mahmoud, Mahmoud Ibrahim. Vom Abfall zum Gewinn: Eine nationale Strategie zur Methanminderung und Verwertung in Nigeria. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2026. https://afripoli.org/de/vom-abfall-zum-gewinn-eine-nationale-strategie-zur-methanminderung-und-verwertung-in-nigeria-en.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mahmoud |first1=Mahmoud Ibrahim |title=Vom Abfall zum Gewinn: Eine nationale Strategie zur Methanminderung und Verwertung in Nigeria |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=1 April 2026 |url=https://afripoli.org/de/vom-abfall-zum-gewinn-eine-nationale-strategie-zur-methanminderung-und-verwertung-in-nigeria-en |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mahmoud2026vom, author = {Mahmoud, Mahmoud Ibrahim}, title = {{Vom Abfall zum Gewinn: Eine nationale Strategie zur Methanminderung und Verwertung in Nigeria}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2026}, month = apr, url = {https://afripoli.org/de/vom-abfall-zum-gewinn-eine-nationale-strategie-zur-methanminderung-und-verwertung-in-nigeria-en}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }