The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is partnering with Nigeria’s Federal Government to develop a methane tracker aimed at reducing emissions in the oil and gas sector.
Adam Heal, the Executive Director of Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), revealed this during a workshop held in Abuja on Friday. The workshop, themed “Presentation of the Prototype Methane Tracker,” was organised by SDN in collaboration with Nigeria’s central government.
Methane, a potent greenhouse gas released during oil and gas production, processing, and transportation, significantly contributes to climate change. Heal emphasised the importance of mitigating methane emissions, stating:
“Methane affects climate change by contributing to increased warming, and reducing its emissions is critical to mitigating it.”
According to Heal, the methane tracker will provide Nigeria with the tools to monitor emissions, generate credible data from emitters, and improve regulatory effectiveness.
“The SDN has been supporting the tracking and monitoring of methane emissions in Nigeria,” he said.
“The tracker is being developed by SDN in collaboration with the Federal Government and supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is because we all know that without better identification of major methane sources, it will be difficult for government, relevant regulatory agencies, and the private sector to identify and respond accordingly.”
Heal explained that the tracker’s primary objective is to establish a baseline for methane emissions, enabling quick and effective monitoring. He highlighted the importance of identifying new sources of methane and integrating freely available data into a platform tailored to Nigeria’s regulatory and industry needs.
“Identifying new sources of methane is absolutely critical,” he said.
“What we are hoping to do is to build on freely available data from sources and integrate it into a platform which is tailored specifically for the needs of Nigerian regulators and industry.”
The tracker, according to Heal, will serve as a one-stop platform for regulators and other stakeholders, providing real-time information on methane emissions.
“In some cases, some companies may be making efforts and they may not have the credible data needed to show it,” he added.
Dr. Jude Samuelson, Head of Environment at SDN, noted that the tracker would simplify the process for government and regulatory agencies to access credible data, aiding global reporting of emission reductions.
“This is necessary so that Nigeria’s nationally determined contributions will be correctly reported,” he said.
Samuelson described the tracker as a groundbreaking tool, stating that the workshop marked the first phase of presenting the prototype to oil and gas regulators for feedback and recommendations.
Ms. Adesola Olatunde, a representative of the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat, commended the initiative as a significant milestone for Nigeria.
“This is very critical, and it is a very good thing for the country,” she said.
“What is needed now is a detailed collaboration and engagement with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the tracker fits into our national priorities and then we can report appropriately.”
The methane tracker represents a step forward in Nigeria’s commitment to addressing climate change, supporting regulatory oversight, and fulfilling its international environmental obligations.
