NUPRC warns gas flare site operators of permit revocation over inactivity

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, has warned that companies awarded gas flare sites under the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, NGFCP, could lose their permits if they fail to utilise them.

The Commission’s Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, issued the warning during a working visit to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, in Abuja.

According to Eyesan, the commission will assess each award one year after issuance to determine whether operators have made significant progress.

“Where there is insufficient progress, the commission will take appropriate regulatory action, including revocation of the award where necessary,” she stated.

Despite initial resistance from some operators, Eyesan said the NGFCP has continued to record progress, noting that 27 of the 43 identified gas flare sites have already been awarded, while implementation efforts remain ongoing.

She further disclosed that Nigeria currently boasts over 215 trillion cubic feet, TCF, of proven gas reserves and an estimated total reserve base of about 600 TCF, positioning the country for increased power generation, industrialisation and exports.

On host community development, Eyesan said the Petroleum Industry Act’s Host Community Development Trust framework has helped reduce oil theft and spills while strengthening relations between operators and host communities.

She revealed that 173 Host Community Development Trusts have been incorporated, with 147 already funded, more than 1,001 projects are currently underway, while over 200 have been completed and commissioned.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Ekpo called for faster implementation of gas commercialisation initiatives to help Nigeria achieve its target of ending routine gas flaring by 2030.

“We must move away from environmental pollution and toward productive resource utilisation,” the minister said.