Nigeria lost $1.5 billion to gas flaring in 2024 - German Ambassador
Germany's Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, revealed at the Nigeria Oil and Gas Energy Week that Nigeria flared 5.3 billion cubic metres of gas in 2024—worth $1.5 billion and ranking seventh globally in gas flare volumes. The disclosure came during a fireside chat at the 25th NOG Energy Week in Abuja on Wednesday.
Germany has launched a new programme to convert flare gas into economic value through Nigeria's existing Energy Transition Plan framework. The initiative, stemming from the 2025 Joint Declaration of Intent on Bilateral Energy Transition Dialogue, will assess technical, regulatory and financing models for capturing gas at oil fields for domestic energy supply, industrial use and hydrogen production.
The German-Nigeria energy partnership, active since 2008, includes the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (now in its sixth phase) and the German-Nigerian Hydrogen Office established in 2021. Both nations share net-zero goals—Germany by 2045 and Nigeria by 2060—with Germany supporting skills development and private sector mobilisation through GIZ and Siemens Energy.
This $1.5 billion represents wasted revenue that could power households, fuel industries, and fund emerging hydrogen projects. Global energy volatility, highlighted by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, underscores the urgency of monetizing flare gas and diversifying energy sources.
Will this German partnership accelerate Nigeria's energy transition enough to capture these lost revenues, or are domestic implementation challenges likely to persist?