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Seplat Energy says strongly committed to sustainability, energy transition

Seplat Energy denies encroachment on communities’ land in Delta

Seplat Energy Plc has reaffirmed it unwavering commitment to sustainability and energy transition.

The company explained that its ability to maintain the lead in the Nigerian gas sector is hinged on a strong ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) framework, which has provided the strong foundation for Seplat Energy’s gas business and its decarbonisation projects.

Samson Ezugworie, Chief Operations Officer, Seplat Energy, said this at the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum 2023, held at the PTDF Tower Abuja, themed: Effective Gas Resources Utilisation: A Lever for Enhanced Energy Security and Achieving Net-Zero Emission Goals in Nigeria.

Speaking during the Energy Forum Discussion Session, Ezugworie, who represented Roger Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Seplat Energy, noted that Seplat Energy has been leading in domestic gas supply in the country, with about 300scf/d, translating to about 30 per cent of Nigeria’s gas-to-power supply. He reiterated the company’s commitment to energy transition, energy security and sustainability, noting that Seplat Energy’s CSR programmes had grown over the years with immeasurable impacts on the people.

He also confirmed that at Seplat Energy, “we have a very aggressive programme to eliminate flares by 2024, through a combination of solutions. We have created a New Energy Directorate, with a mandate to look into power and the entire energy transition value chain.”

He said the company’s primary commitment is to reduce its GHG emissions resulting from direct operations, adding that Seplat Energy have established a broad set of investment activities designed to reduce emissions from its operated facilities and offset residual emissions.

Read also: Renewables, EVs, heat pumps restrain CO2 emissions in 2022 – IEA

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 performance of the AG compressor in Oben and Amukpe, alongside regular asset integrity checks and other facility improvement activities, were effective and AG flare volume was reduced by 18.2percent at Oben (5.7 MMscfd against 6.97 MMscfd in 2021) and by 39.9percent at Amukpe (1.1 MMscfd against 1.83 MMscfd in 2021).

The Seplat boss added: “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 located around our operations using solar energy in 2023.”

The company has committed $11.5 million in 2023 towards projects that will end routine 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.

Upon completion of these projects, Seplat Energy expect 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.

In addition, Seplat Energy has committed $1million towards planting trees across Nigeria as part of afforestation efforts that will capture residual emissions. Its focus in 2023 will be on mobilising community stakeholders and completing land acquisition to enable the commencement of tree planting in Imo, Edo and Abuja.

Attendees to the event include Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive, NNPC Limited as well as representatives from the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), oil companies, oil servicing firms, and a host of other Nigerian energy industry players.

Iheanyi Nwachukwu, is a creative content writer with over 18 years journalism experience writing on banking, finance and capital markets. The multiple awards winning journalist is Assistant Editor, BusinessDay. Iheanyi holds BSc Degree in Economics from Imo State University; Master of Science (MSc) Degree in Management from University of Lagos. Iheanyi has attended several work-related trainings including (i) Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (Pan African University, Lagos); (ii) News Agency Journalism (Indian Institute of Mass Communication {IIMC}, New Delhi, India); and (iii) Capital Markets Development and Regulations (International Law Institute {ILI} of Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA).

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