Nigeria Gas Flaring Rises 8% as Global Waste of Natural Gas Hits Six-Year High

Global gas flaring surged to its highest level in six years in 2025, with Nigeria recording an eight per cent increase in the volume of natural gas burned off during oil production, according to the latest Global Gas Flaring Tracker released by the World Bank. The report revealed that 167 billion cubic metres of natural gas were flared worldwide last year, marking the third consecutive annual increase and representing an estimated $54 billion worth of wasted energy resources.

For Nigeria, the findings highlight a persistent challenge that has lingered despite years of government policies aimed at ending routine gas flaring. While the country’s oil production rose by eight per cent in 2025, gas flaring increased at the same rate, reflecting the continued inability to fully capture and commercialise associated gas. The World Bank attributed the trend largely to inadequate infrastructure, limited gas transportation networks, and ageing processing facilities that frequently experience operational disruptions.

The report described the scale of the waste as alarming, noting that the volume of gas flared globally exceeded the amount of liquefied natural gas that passed through the Persian Gulf during the year and was equivalent to Africa’s total annual gas consumption. For a continent still grappling with widespread electricity shortages and energy poverty, the figures underscore a major missed opportunity. Capturing and utilising this gas could have strengthened power generation, supported industrial growth, expanded access to clean cooking fuels, and created thousands of jobs.

Nigeria’s struggle comes at a crucial time as the country seeks to position natural gas as a key driver of economic growth, industrialisation, and energy transition. However, infrastructure bottlenecks continue to limit the movement of gas to domestic and export markets, preventing the country from fully benefiting from its vast gas reserves. The World Bank also noted that persistent energy shortages across Sub-Saharan Africa have significant economic consequences, with power outages linked to a 14 per cent decline in employment across the region.

Despite the gloomy outlook, the report stressed that solutions already exist. According to the World Bank’s Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Partnership, the technologies, regulations, and financing mechanisms needed to eliminate routine gas flaring are readily available. What remains lacking, experts say, is stronger political commitment, improved governance, and sustained investment in infrastructure. Without urgent action, billions of dollars in potential revenue will continue to go up in smoke while millions remain without reliable access to energy.

source: The guardian