The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has issued a new directive mandating upstream oil and gas operators to adopt standardised templates and transition to measurement-based reporting of methane and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The directive was signed by the chief executive of the commission, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, on Monday and it takes immediate effect.
This is part of efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability, and alignment with Nigeria’s climate commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
According to the commission, all operators are now required to institutionalise credible Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems for emissions tracking, moving away from estimation-based methods toward more precise, science-driven measurement approaches.
The regulator said the move is in response to increasing global pressure to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C, which has placed heightened expectations on fossil fuel producers to curb methane emissions and improve environmental performance.
NUPRC noted that since 2022, operators had been required to use the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 1 methodology for emissions estimation, but the new directive enforces a phased transition to more advanced systems.
Under the new framework, companies must adopt IPCC Tier 2 methodologies by the third quarter of 2026 and fully transition to Tier 3—considered the most accurate, measurement-based standard—by January 2027.
To ensure uniformity in reporting, operators are also mandated to comply with newly introduced templates, including the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management Plan (GHGEMP) and standardised formats for methane and GHG emissions accounting and inventories.
The commission emphasised that all submissions must be verifiable, transparent, and evidence-based, in line with MRV principles, and must follow templates published on its official website.
While reaffirming the IPCC framework as the global standard, NUPRC stated that operators may align with other recognised frameworks such as OGMP 2.0, API, and ISO, provided submissions meet regulatory requirements.
The directive also acknowledges existing technical and infrastructural gaps within the industry. In response, the commission said it has begun capacity-building initiatives, including targeted workshops and guidance sessions, to support operators in the transition.
Nigeria has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, ending routine gas flaring by 2030, and cutting methane emissions by 60 per cent by 2035. The commission said achieving these targets depends on a robust, traceable, and internationally compliant emissions reporting system.
NUPRC added that the new measures are expected to enhance Nigeria’s credibility in global energy and climate markets while attracting climate-focused investments into the upstream sector.
The commission reiterated its commitment to supporting the industry through technical guidance and the deployment of MRV-enabling infrastructure.