- Seplat Energy Plc has unveiled plans to eliminate flares by 2024 through various gas utilisation projects.
- On completion of these projects, Seplat Energy expects to improve its gas handling capacity and reduce flares by approximately 30 MMscfd in 2023 and 20 MMscfd in 2024.
Seplat Energy Plc has unveiled plans to eliminate flares by 2024 through various gas utilisation projects. Chief Executive Officer Seplat Energy, Mr Roger Brown, said the company’s primary commitment is to reduce its GHG emissions resulting from direct operations, adding that Seplat Energy has established a broad set of investment activities designed to reduce emissions from its operated facilities and offset residual emissions.
Brown, who is the Chief Operations Officer of Seplat Energy, represented Mr Samson Ezugworie at the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum 2023, said, Seplat Energy’s Flares Out project, which forms part of our commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050, is on schedule to reach the target of ending routine flares by the end of 2024.
In 2022, improvements in the performance of the AG compressor in Oben and Amukpe, alongside regular asset integrity checks and other facility improvement activities, were effective. AG flare volume was reduced by 18.2 per cent at Oben (5.7 MMscfd against 6.97 MMscfd in 2021) and by 39.9 per cent at Amukpe (1.1 MMscfd against 1.83 MMscfd in 2021).
He said: “Our diesel replacement programme seeks to increase the use of gas, a less carbon-intensive fuel for power generation and where feasible, solar power is also being considered. We are piloting solar at our Amukpe warehouse to power equipment on site and plan to power the security outposts around our operations using solar energy in 2023. The company has committed $11.5 million in 2023 towards projects ending frequent flares in our operations, including $10.8million towards installing gas compression facilities at the flow stations in Amukpe, Oben and Sapele and $0.7 million towards incineration at the Amukpe flow station.”
After completing these projects, Seplat Energy expects to improve its gas handling capacity and reduce flares by approximately 30 MMscfd in 2023 and 20 MMscfd in 2024, which will, in turn, monetise flare gas in line with its corporate strategy and the national flare gas commercialisation initiative. He also reaffirmed the company’s fierce and unwavering commitment to sustainability and energy transition. He explained that its ability to maintain the lead in the Nigerian gas sector is hinged on a strong ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) framework, providing the foundation for Seplat Energy’s gas business and decarbonisation projects.