Nigeria flared 215.09 billion cubic feet of natural gas in 2025, as its gas flaring rate rose to 7.89 percent from 7.61 percent in 2024, despite growing efforts to commercialise associated gas and reduce emissions, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) latest report.
The country produced 2.73 trillion cubic feet of associated and non-associated gas during the year, of which 2.507 trillion cubic feet was utilised, representing 92 percent.
The remaining 0.215 trillion cubic feet was flared, while 0.0028 trillion cubic feet was reported as shrinkage.
NUPRC attributed the increase in the flaring rate partly to higher associated gas production, particularly from new entrants whose associated gas-handling facilities were not yet operational.
“It is pertinent to state here that the slight uptick in flaring can be attributed to increased AG production, especially from new entrants whose AG handling facilities are yet to be on board,” the report noted.
The highest monthly flaring rate in the period occurred in December, with 20,206 million standard cubic feet of gas flared out of production of 218,376 million standard cubic feet, representing about 9.25 percent of gas flared.
The regulator attributed the December increase to problems with gas reinjection compressors on board the Agbami floating production, storage and offloading vessel following turnaround maintenance.
“The spike in flaring in December 2025, as observed from the table was due to issues around gas reinjection compressors on board the Agbami FPSO post Turn Around Maintenance,” NUPRC noted.
September also recorded a high flaring rate of 9.12 percent, with 18,104 million standard cubic feet flared from production of 198,493 million standard cubic feet.
However, flaring was relatively lower between March and August, ranging from 7.16 percent in May to 7.40 percent in August, before rising above eight percent from September through December.
Beyond the volume flared, the report noted that gas exports accounted for the largest share of utilised gas in 2025, at 915,996 million standard cubic feet, representing 36.5 percent.
Locally, domestic gas sales accounted for 802,593 million standard cubic feet, or 32 percent, while reinjected gas was 539,172 million standard cubic feet, representing 21.5 percent.
Similarly, fuel gas accounted for 5.6 percent of utilisation, while gas lift represented 4.3 percent.
NUPRC also processed 109 applications for non-routine gas flaring permits during the year. The applications came from 19 operating companies and covered emergencies, equipment maintenance, well activities, and pre-commissioning and start-up operations.
But beyond the environmental risk of gas flaring, defaulters remitted fines to the regulatory body in atonement. According to the report, flaring penalties generated N611.42 billion, compared with N391.26 billion a year ago.
NUPRC report aligns with recent findings from the World Bank. A report by the international bank found that Nigeria’s gas flaring rose by 8 percent in 2025, amongst a poll of top nine gas-flaring nations in the period.
According to the World Bank, insufficient gas gathering, processing and transportation facilities remain major obstacles to reducing routine flaring.
Further findings show that ageing gas processing infrastructure and high facility downtime are factors contributing to elevated flaring levels, and inadequate infrastructure to transport associated gas to markets continues to limit gas utilisation.
Nigeria’s continued flaring is largely attributed to inadequate gas infrastructure, which limits the ability of operators to capture and commercialise associated gas produced alongside crude oil.
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Feyishola Jaiyesimi is a writer and storyteller. She currently writes for the energy desk at BusinessDay with a focus on renewable energy and environmental issues. She began her journalism career as an agricultural reporter and now covers the energy sector, including oil, gas, electricity, environment, and renewables. She has been selected for professional training by the US Consulate, Lagos. She is a 2025 Dataphyte Biodiversity Reporting Fellow. Feyishola holds a bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Environmental Biology from Ekiti State University.
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