50% of Shell’s gas flaring happened in Nigeria –Report

Adebayo Obajemu

Oil and gas giant, Shell Plc, has disclosed that about 50 per cent of total routine and non-routine flaring in its integrated gas and upstream facilities in 2023 took place in assets operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Commission and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company.

Shell Energy Transition Strategy 2024 report has reported.

The oil giant stressed in this report that it had finalized objective to sell the gas flaring Nigerian assets to a consortium of indigenous energy firms.

“Around 50 per cent of total routine and non-routine flaring in our Integrated Gas and Upstream facilities in 2023 occurred in assets operated by the SPDC and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company. On January 16, 2024, Shell reached an agreement to sell SPDC to a consortium of five companies, subject to approvals by the Federal Government of Nigeria and other conditions,” the report noted.

It further stated that it was strategizing on how to reduce flaring, which is inefficient and contributes to climate change.

Averagely , routine flaring of gas happens during normal oil production when it is not possible to use the gas or re-inject it into the well.

“In 2021, we brought forward our target to eliminate routine flaring from our upstream operations to 2025 from 2030. This accelerates our commitment in 2015 to end routine flaring as a signatory to the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative.

“Total routine flaring Our upstream oil and gas assets remained relatively stable in 2023 compared with 2022 at 0.1 million metric tons, having reduced from 1.1 million metric tons in 2016, the report added.

The company revealed that it had invested $5.6bn in low-carbon solutions in 2023, “which was 23 per cent of our capital spending.”

Shell stated that, “We are spending $10-15bn on low-carbon solutions between 2023 and 2025, making us a significant investor in the energy transition.

“With our focused approach, we believe our investments will have an important impact, allowing us to develop low-carbon solutions at increasingly affordable prices for our customers.”

Shell said it would provide the different kinds of energy the world needs, especially in liquefied natural gas.

“We will invest in producing LNG with lower carbon intensity, in reducing emissions from oil and gas production, and in providing cleaner energy solutions. As we transform Shell into a net-zero emissions energy business, we believe we are the investment case and the partner of choice through the energy transition,” it was stated.

Shell said it was planning to invest $11m in 25 mini-grid projects across Nigeria, saying it had plans to supply affordable solar energy to communities in need.

“In Nigeria, Shell-funded investment company All On has agreed to invest $11m in 25 mini-grid projects across the country. The company plans to supply affordable solar energy to communities that need it the most,” it stated.