Nigeria’s gas flaring rate increased to 7.48 per cent in August 2026, reversing several months of improvement and reaching its highest level in about 10 months.
Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) showed that oil and gas producers flared approximately 18,350.55 million standard cubic feet of gas during the month.
The increase came despite strong overall gas production and utilisation. Nigeria produced about 245,439.13 million standard cubic feet of gas in August, with roughly 92.5 per cent captured for field operations, domestic supply and exports.
The August figure represents a reversal from the decline recorded earlier in the year. Gas flaring had fallen to 6.40 per cent in March before rising to 6.77 per cent in June and 6.72 per cent in July.
Compared with August 2025, the volume of gas flared also increased. About 16,729.35 million standard cubic feet was flared in August last year, meaning the latest figure represents an increase of more than 1,600 million standard cubic feet.
The development highlights the continuing challenge Nigeria faces in capturing and commercialising associated gas produced alongside crude oil.
Gas flaring occurs when unwanted natural gas is burned during oil production instead of being captured for processing, power generation, industrial use or export. The practice wastes a potentially valuable energy resource while also contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
Nigeria has repeatedly pledged to reduce routine gas flaring and ultimately eliminate the practice. The Federal Government has also promoted projects aimed at converting gas that would otherwise be flared into commercially useful energy and industrial feedstock.
The latest increase is significant because it follows a period in which the country appeared to be making gradual progress in reducing the proportion of gas sent to flares.
The figures also come amid efforts to increase domestic gas utilisation as Nigeria seeks to expand electricity generation, industrial production and other gas-based economic activities.
For the oil and gas industry, reducing flaring could provide an opportunity to capture more value from gas that is currently being wasted. Greater investment in gathering systems, processing facilities and pipelines remains important to achieving that objective.
The government has maintained that Nigeria’s gas resources can play a larger role in supporting economic growth, improving energy supply and generating additional revenue.
The August figures, however, show that reducing gas flaring remains a continuing challenge and that recent improvements have yet to become a consistent downward trend.
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