As part of this year’s EU Green Diplomacy Week, the European Union and the German Embassy in Abuja have launched the German–Nigerian Flare4Value project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at cutting gas flaring and transforming wasted energy into new industrial and economic value.
The programme, implemented under H₂-diplo—a GIZ-led energy diplomacy initiative commissioned by the German Federal Foreign Office and funded through the International Climate Initiative (IKI)—marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s climate and energy transition efforts.
A New Chapter in German–Nigerian Climate Cooperation
Speaking at the launch event in Abuja, Kristina Fuerst, Head of the German–Nigerian Hydrogen Office, described the project as “a bold step toward turning environmental challenges into tangible opportunities.”
She noted that tackling gas flaring is not only about emission reduction but also about opening pathways to energy access, industrial growth, and sustainable development.
“This project reflects our shared vision — reducing gas flares is both a climate priority and a development enabler for Nigeria,” Fuerst said.
Echoing her remarks, Johannes Lehne, Deputy German Ambassador to Nigeria, emphasized that flare reduction represents an intersection between climate responsibility and economic progress.
“By capturing flare gas and repurposing it for power and industry, we reduce emissions while generating new streams of value,” he explained, calling the initiative a testament to the strength of German–Nigerian collaboration within the EU’s broader climate strategy.
Nigeria’s Path to Cleaner Energy and Industrial Growth
Representing the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Vitalis Obi, Permanent Secretary, commended the initiative as a practical tool for turning Nigeria’s gas resources into sustainable economic assets.
He said projects like Flare4Value “provide a blueprint for Nigeria to turn waste into wealth — driving cleaner energy, industrial expansion, and environmental protection.”
Nigeria currently ranks among the top seven gas-flaring countries globally, losing billions of dollars in untapped revenue and contributing significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
In 2022 alone, approximately 275 billion standard cubic feet of gas were flared, releasing over 16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent—a trend that contradicts the Climate Change Act (2021), which requires strict carbon management and emission reduction.
Flare4Value: Turning Waste into Hydrogen and Wealth
The Flare4Value project seeks to reduce flaring by introducing gas capture, utilisation, and conversion technologies that align with Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan. A unique element of the initiative is its focus on flare gas-to-hydrogen innovation, transforming excess gas into clean hydrogen fuel for industrial and export purposes.
The approach is expected to cut emissions, support local industries, and attract investment into Nigeria’s growing clean energy sector.
According to Godfrey Ogbemudia, Programme Manager for Energy, Circular Economy, and Climate Change at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, the project underscores a shared responsibility in the global climate effort.
“Reducing what we emit today is a duty we all share,” he said. “This project not only supports environmental goals but also opens new business opportunities through gas commercialisation and cleaner energy innovation.”
A Bilateral Platform for Sustainable Action
Flare4Value brings together Nigerian and German institutions in a long-term partnership driven by structured dialogue, technology exchange, and private-sector collaboration.
Participating Nigerian agencies include the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gas Aggregator Company of Nigeria (GACN), the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).
Following a virtual kick-off on 29 September, the initiative was formally launched in Abuja during the weekend ceremony. Next steps include a study tour to Germany in October, where Nigerian and German stakeholders will explore clean-energy solutions, and a multistakeholder conference in Abuja on 4 December 2025, where a discussion paper on flare-gas reduction and a B2B exchange platform will be presented.
