Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria has lost approximately 4,100 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity as a result of increased gas flaring, further exacerbating the country’s persistent power supply challenges.
According to the Electricity Generating Companies (GenCos), limited gas supply remains a major hurdle to efficient power generation. Industry stakeholders also point to significant debts owed to gas suppliers as a critical factor constraining the sector.
Nigeria, one of the world’s top gas producing nations continues to struggle with harnessing its natural gas resources for domestic electricity generation. Despite government efforts to curb gas flaring through regulatory frameworks and financial penalties, the practice persists, leading to wasted energy potential.
The inability to access adequate gas supply has severely impacted our power output,” a spokesperson for a major GenCo stated. Without urgent financial interventions and policy enforcement, the sector will continue to face setbacks.
Gas flaring, the practice of burning excess natural gas during oil production, has been a longstanding issue in Nigeria. Besides economic losses, it also contributes to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, further compounding the nation’s energy crisis.
Energy analysts warn that unless the government and industry players implement more aggressive measures to curb flaring and prioritize gas supply to power plants, Nigeria’s electricity deficit will worsen.
The country’s electricity grid has struggled to meet demand, with frequent blackouts and load shedding affecting businesses and households nationwide. Stakeholders are urging the government to expedite ongoing gas infrastructure projects and enforce stricter penalties for flaring to ensure a more stable power supply.
As Nigeria continues to push for energy sector reforms, addressing gas flaring remains a critical step toward achieving energy security and economic growth.
