Nigeria has taken a decisive leap toward a cleaner, more economically productive energy future.
The NNPC/Heirs Energies OML 17 Joint Venture has formally signed a suite of Gas Flare Commercialisation Agreements under both the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP) and approved Non-NGFCP frameworks.
The move underscores Nigeria’s commitment to reducing routine flaring, deepening domestic gas supply, and accelerating its transition to lower-carbon energy systems.
For Heirs Energies, the operator of the Joint Venture, the agreements represent another milestone in its long-term strategy to transform brownfield assets while strengthening the country’s energy security.
Under the new arrangements, approved flare offtakers — AUT Gas, Twems Energies, Gas & Power Infrastructure Development Limited (GPID), PCCD, and Africa Gas & Transport Company Limited (AGTC) — will capture and convert OML 17’s flare volumes for productive use.
Planned outputs include power generation, industrial feedstock, LPG, and CNG, directly supporting the Federal Government’s gas-led growth and clean-energy ambitions.
In his speech at the signing, Engr. Seyi Omotowa, Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NUIMS and representing NNPC Limited, called the milestone a practical demonstration of Nigeria’s gas-first development agenda.
“Flare gas commercialisation is not a compliance exercise; it is a strategic pathway to improving energy availability, deepening gas-based industrialisation, and strengthening Nigeria’s position as a responsible energy producer. OML 17 has become a practical model of this vision, moving decisively from approval to delivery,” he said.
He also commended Heirs Energies for its disciplined execution and investment, noting that the partnership continues to set performance benchmarks in Nigeria’s upstream sector.
Regulatory backing was equally clear. Representing the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr. Oje Olalekan Ezekiel reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to enabling bankable, environmentally responsible gas-to-market projects under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
He emphasised that the initiative aligns directly with national emission-reduction goals and the Commission’s mandate for gas commercialisation.
For Heirs Energies, the agreements are central to its strategy to convert waste into economic and social value.
Chief executive officer, Osa Igiehon, noted that gas development remains foundational to Nigeria’s future.
“Through disciplined investment, partnership with regulators and credible offtakers, and a clear execution focus, we are converting waste into value, strengthening domestic energy supply, and supporting responsible operations across OML 17,” he said.
The initiative builds on the Joint Venture’s recent gas-delivery gains driven by targeted brownfield interventions and smarter infrastructure optimisation. A major milestone was Heirs Energies’ restoration of the Agbada-67 well, which added approximately 45 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to the grid.
Heirs Energies has also continued to expand host-community programmes, supporting healthcare, education, and skills development across its operational footprint.
With the signing completed, offtakers will now move into full implementation in collaboration with the JV, regulators, and local communities.
The OML 17 NGFCP projects reinforce Nigeria’s ambition to evolve into a gas-led economy, supporting power generation, industrial growth, and responsible resource management while advancing the country’s energy-transition agenda.
