Heirs Energies, NNPCL advance gas commercialisation at OML 17 in Nigeria

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Heirs Energies have signed flare-gas commercialisation agreements under the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP) and approved Non-NGFCP frameworks.

The agreements aim to advance Nigeria’s gas commercialisation and environmental stewardship agenda spearheaded by the NNPCL/Heirs Energies Oil Mining Licence 17 (OML 17) joint venture (JV). The signing ceremony took place on December 9, Heirs Energies said in a press statement.

OML 17, one of Nigeria’s largest onshore oil and gas fields, is located next to Port Harcourt, the second industrial city of Nigeria and centre of the upstream oil industry. Heirs Energies is the operator with a 45% stake while NNPCL holds its 55% equity stake as a non-operating partner in the JV.

According to Heirs Energies, the ceremony marks the shift from regulatory approval to full commercial implementation, allowing flare gas from OML 17 to be captured and used for domestic power generation, industrial applications and LPG/CNG production.

The agreements link Heirs Energies with approved flare-gas offtakers under arrangements aimed at ending routine flaring and turning wasted gas into economic value.

NUIMS, NNPCL’s Upstream Investment Management Services unit, was represented by its chief upstream investment officer Seyi Omotowa, who noted that the milestone demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to gas-led development.

“For us at NNPC Limited and NUIMS, 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,” Omotowa said.

Ojo Olalekan Ezekiel, a senior manager at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), reiterated the Commission’s support for flare-gas commercialisation. The NUPRC aimed to ensure that operators and offtakers could deliver bankable, environmentally responsible gas-to-market projects in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, Ezekiel affirmed.

“This ceremony demonstrates Heirs Energies’ commitment to eliminating routine gas flaring across OML 17 and aligns fully with the Commission’s Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme and national energy and emission-reduction objectives,” he added.

Nigeria’s flare-gas programme builds on recent progress at the OML 17 JV, where brownfield work and infrastructure upgrades have increased gas supply to the domestic market. Following the signing ceremony, the approved offtakers will now move into full project execution in cooperation with the JV, regulators and local communities to deliver commercial, environmental and social benefits.

The initiative strengthens Nigeria’s position as a gas-led economy, supporting power generation, industrial activity and responsible resource use while advancing national energy transition goals.

“Gas sits at the heart of Nigeria’s development journey. 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,” said Heirs Energies’ CEO Osa Igiehon.