Gas Flaring in Niger Delta Falls to Lowest Level in a Decade, Report Finds

Gas flaring volumes across Niger Delta oil fields have dropped to their lowest recorded level in ten years, according to a new report jointly compiled by industry monitors and satellite data analysts, as operators bring more associated gas into domestic supply and export pipelines rather than burning it off.

The report attributes much of the decline to newly commissioned gas-gathering facilities in the western Niger Delta, alongside stronger enforcement of the flare-out deadline that has repeatedly been extended over the past decade. Several marginal field operators have also switched to smaller-scale gas-to-power projects that monetise volumes previously flared.

Environmental groups welcomed the trend but cautioned against declaring victory too early. "Flaring drops during normal operations, but our monitoring still shows spikes whenever there's an unplanned shutdown or pipeline vandalism forces gas to be flared for safety reasons," said a researcher with a Port Harcourt-based environmental monitoring group.

Communities near flare sites in Delta and Rivers States say they have noticed some improvement in night-time light pollution and associated heat, though many still report respiratory complaints they link to years of exposure.

The federal government has set a further reduction target for the coming years as part of its broader energy transition commitments, with additional gas-gathering projects reportedly in the pipeline for the eastern Niger Delta.