By Edu Abade
Nigeria’s foremost indigenous energy company, Seplat Energy Plc, has reassured stakeholders of its commitment to end gas flaring in its areas of operations by 2025, maintaining that all projects aimed at realizing the target are intact and on track.
Director of New Energy, Seplat Energy, Mr. Okechukwu Mba, gave the assurance during a panel session at the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigerian Council’s 47th Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE) in Lagos with the theme: Energy Security: Exploring the Interplay Between Technology, Market Dynamics and Organizational Capabilities.
“We are committed to ending routine gas flaring by 2025. In a bid to end gas flaring as targeted, Seplat Energy has continued to progress efforts to secure evacuation options for unprocessed associated gas from the Sapele Flow Station.
“Alongside this, work has continued on the construction of the Sapele Integrated Gas Plant (SIGP), which is scheduled to be completed during H2 2024. Once operational, SIGP off-take has the potential to materially reduce Group Scope 1 emissions.
Other ongoing key flare-out projects, including the Western Asset Flares Out (installation of VRU compressors), Sapele LPG Storage and Offloading Facility, Oben LPG Project and Ohaji Flares Out Project are on track for completion by their respective due dates.
Mba, who represented the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Roger Brown, also referenced the company’s Tree4Life initiative, which recently saw the NEPL and Seplat Energy joint venture (JV) and the Edo State Government sign an agreement that allocates 6,000 hectares of land from Edo State protected forest reserves to enable a large-scale tree planting initiative by Seplat Energy Plc.
“This is in furtherance of increasing forest cover and carbon sequestration efforts within the region and ensuring a sustainable environment for living. At Seplat Energy, we are driving and ensuring a sustainable business and creating increased value for people and the environment,” he said.
While restating its resolve to address the dual challenges of ensuring energy security and meeting climate change mitigation targets, he said every molecule of gas Seplat Energy produces is targeted at displacing utilizable diesel.
He added that the company’s new gas plant developments now come with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) installations, which promote clean energy and discourages the use of biomass for cooking.
Participants and organizers of the 2024 SPE NAICE commended Seplat Energy and other operators’ efforts to drive LPG penetration in Nigeria, as the moves are expected to boost supply of LPG in Nigeria and possibly reduces prices of the commodity, thus promoting accessibility and energy security.
Also speaking on Seplat Energy’s commitment to ensuring sustainable business partnerships, Mba pointed out that all efforts are being deployed to check any form of production deferment and downtime by ensuring strong partnerships with suppliers, who are continuously supported to succeed in delivering value to Seplat Energy and its other stakeholders.
On the current opportunity available to Nigeria to ensure energy security, Mba said: “For Nigeria, it is important that we use what we have (gas) to address the country’s energy challenges and further boost energy access for our people.”
