Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) is scaling up efforts to curb methane emissions by embedding prevention measures into new facility designs, upgrading existing assets, and deploying advanced technologies, according to its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Philip Mshelbila.
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Speaking at a high-level panel during the 2025 Gastech Conference in Milan, Italy, Mshelbila said a key initiative is the near-completion of a new boil-off gas compressor system designed to capture and re-inject methane back into the value chain.
He noted that the renewed push reflects NLNG’s legacy as a pioneer in Nigeria’s gas industry. Since its inception 26 years ago to reduce the nation’s high levels of gas flaring, the company has cut flaring volumes by more than 40 percent through the capture and monetisation of associated gas.
Mshelbila highlighted NLNG’s alignment with international best practices, pointing out that the company has secured the OGMP 2.0 Gold Standard for two consecutive years by demonstrating a clear roadmap to the highest levels of accuracy in methane emissions quantification (Level 5).
“We know our baseline, we know where the leaks occur, and we measure whether our interventions are working,” he said. “But the bigger challenge is how we get others in the industry to do the same. No single operator can solve this problem alone.”
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He stressed that prevention remains central to methane management, urging operators to prioritise smarter plant design, modernised pipelines and facilities, and timely upgrades to curb leaks from aging infrastructure.
Citing global trends, Mshelbila explained that about 40 per cent of methane emissions occur naturally from wetlands and oceans, while 60 per cent are human-driven—of which agriculture accounts for 40 percent and oil and gas operations about 21 percent.
He cautioned that without tackling agriculture and waste emissions, progress in the energy sector would be limited, though oil and gas must lead by example.
“The technology is available, but not everyone can afford it,” he added. “Financing, especially for smaller operators, remains a hurdle. In many developing countries, policies and regulatory frameworks for methane are also less advanced than those for carbon dioxide. These are gaps the global industry must urgently close.”
Mshelbila called for stronger partnerships across the value chain, from financing models that enable smaller operators to invest, to knowledge-sharing on innovations such as satellite-based detection systems.
Now in its 53rd edition, the Gastech Conference is the world’s largest platform for natural gas, LNG, hydrogen, low-carbon solutions, and climate technologies.
