By Ejekwu Chidiebere
Energy Window International (Media) — Seplat Energy Plc has reaffirmed its commitment in driving Nigeria’s oil and gas exploration and production in view of its critical role in the push for the country’s energy mix, while stressing the need for operators to conduct their activities responsibly, efficiently, and sustainably.
Mr. Okechukwu Mba, Director, Gas & New Energy, Seplat Energy Plc, who represented the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Roger Brown said this during a high-level climate roundtable organized by the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group) in partnership with DEG, Germany’s development finance institution, and Africa Foresight Group (AFG) in Lagos.
Mr. Mba noted that the real issue facing Nigeria’s energy sector was not about whether oil and gas should exist, but how much attention operators could pay in the management of their responsibilities to the environment, society, and the economy.
Mr. Mba said: “Oil and gas will remain an important part of Nigeria’s energy mix for some time to come. The right conversation is not whether oil and gas should exist, but how operators conduct themselves responsibly.”
He said responsible operations must be seen to be driven by concrete actions, including “improved efficiency, reduced emissions, and credible offsetting strategies”.
He explained that this commitment was already being translated into measurable outcomes, while disclosing that the company had several years ago launched a comprehensive programme to end routine gas flaring across all its onshore operations. Adding that as at the end of last year, all the projects needed for the actualization of this milestone were delivered and currently awaiting commissioning.
“Very soon, we will be able to clearly state that routine flaring has ended in our onshore operations. This is an important milestone that speaks to our stewardship of the environment, while remaining focused on delivering energy to the nation,” he said.
He also highlighted the deployment of technology to enable the Company enhance its operational efficiency, including real-time monitoring of emissions across pipelines, valves, plants, and other critical infrastructure, accompanied by a robust asset integrity programme designed to identify and eliminate emissions.
Beyond operational measures, Mr. Mba said the company was also implementing nature-based solutions to offset emissions. He said Seplat has even launched an afforestation programme committing to plant millions of trees over a five-year period, with the first phase already completed in one of its host communities in Edo State.
He also highlighted the company’s investments in gas and LPG infrastructure as part of the Company’s efforts to reduce emissions beyond its areas of operation. According to him, expanding access to LPG is critical as it helps reduce reliance on firewood, charcoal, and other biomass fuels, particularly in communities outside major cities.
Following Seplat Energy’s offshore acquisition, he stated how Seplat has successfully domesticated LPG thereby significantly improving its availability and affordability within the local even without compromising its quality.
Mr. Mba also underlined the urgent need for financing to support Nigeria’s energy transition, particularly gas and gas-to-power projects, noting that while only about five gigawatts of electricity currently come from the national grid, a much larger share of power is self-generated through petrol and diesel generators that produce significantly higher emissions.
“If we replace these inefficient power sources with gas-powered energy, we can achieve substantial decarbonisation. But without adequate financing, these projects cannot be implemented, and the benefits will not be realised,” he said.
The launch of the NGX Net-Zero Programme (N-Zero) was an initiative designed to support companies which were enlisted to help in the proper definition of the net-zero pathways, toward improving climate-related disclosures, in alignment with global investor expectations. The programme is also expected to unlock between $2.5 and $3.1 billion in climate-linked capital for Nigerian companies.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Umaru Kwairanga, Group Chairman of NGX Group, said Africa’s capital markets must take a leading role in driving climate action and sustainable growth, adding that the NGX Net-Zero Programme will help companies move from climate ambition to measurable action.
Still on investment, Mr. Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director of NGX Group, noted that climate risk has become a critical factor in valuation and capital allocation globally, while Ms. Monika Beck, a member of the Management Board of DEG, said the partnership aligned with DEG’s strategy of mobilizing private capital to accelerate climate action while delivering measurable development impact.