NLNG Champions Methane Fight, Urges Global Oil and Gas Industry to Step Up
Kathy Kyari
Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has stepped up its campaign against methane emissions, with its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Philip Mshelbila, unveiling fresh measures to curb leaks and calling for collective industry-wide action.
Speaking during a high-level panel at the 2025 Gastech Conference in Milan, Italy, on Thursday, Mshelbila disclosed that central to the company’s strategy was the installation of a new boil-off gas compressor system, now nearing completion. The system will capture and re-inject methane back into the value chain.
According to him, the renewed push reflects NLNG’s long-standing role as an industry trailblazer. He recalled that the company, which began operations about 26 years ago to address Nigeria’s high levels of gas flaring, has since reduced the nation’s flaring volumes by more than 40% through the capture and monetisation of associated gas.
He further noted that NLNG is aligning its operations with global best practices, highlighting the company’s recognition under the OGMP 2.0 standard, where it has attained Gold Standard status for two consecutive years. This was based on its clear plan to achieve the highest levels of accuracy in methane emissions quantification using the OGMP framework (Level 5).
Mshelbila explained: “We know our baseline, we know where the leaks occur, and we measure whether our interventions are working. But the bigger challenge is how we get others in the industry to do the same. No single operator can solve this problem alone.”
Underscoring the central role of prevention, he urged operators to prioritise smarter plant designs, improved pipelines and facilities, and timely upgrades to reduce fugitive leaks from brownfield assets.
Providing a global context, the NLNG boss revealed that about 40% of methane emissions occur naturally, mainly from wetlands and oceans, while 60% are caused by human activity. Agriculture, he said, contributes the largest share at 40%, with oil and gas operations accounting for about 21% of total global methane emissions. He stressed, however, that the oil and gas industry must lead by example despite the limitations posed by other sectors.
He cautioned that while technology exists to address methane emissions, financing and policy gaps remain a challenge: “The technology is available, but not everyone can afford it. Financing, particularly for smaller operators, is a major hurdle. And in many developing countries, policies and regulatory frameworks for methane are far less developed than those for carbon dioxide. These are gaps the global industry must urgently close.”
Calling for stronger partnerships across the energy value chain, Mshelbila emphasised the need for financing models that enable smaller operators to invest, as well as greater knowledge sharing on advanced technologies such as satellite-based detection systems.
Now in its 53rd edition, the Gastech Conference is the world’s largest and most influential platform for natural gas, LNG, hydrogen, low-carbon solutions, and climate technologies. The 2025 edition, held in Milan from September 9 to 12, brought together global leaders, experts, and innovators to forge partnerships and showcase solutions shaping the future of energy.
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