Nigeria, 8 Others Dominate Global Gas Flaring as World Bank Flags 83% Share in 2025
Nigeria has once again been identified as one of the world’s top contributors to gas flaring, as a new World Bank report shows that just nine countries are responsible for a staggering 83% of global flaring in 2025. The country appears alongside Russia, Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, Mexico, Libya, Algeria, and the United States in the list of biggest offenders, underscoring the persistent challenge of emissions control in global oil production.
The findings are contained in the World Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report, which reveals a troubling imbalance in the industry. While over 90 oil-producing countries collectively account for only 17% of total gas flaring, they produce more than half of the world’s crude oil. This contrast highlights how inefficient gas management remains concentrated in a small group of major producers.
For Nigeria, the report paints a mixed but concerning picture. The country recorded an 8% increase in both crude oil production and gas flaring volumes in 2025, while flaring intensity remained largely unchanged compared to the previous year. According to the World Bank, this stagnation reflects ongoing infrastructure challenges, particularly the lack of adequate facilities to capture and transport associated gas to markets.
The report further notes that aging processing plants and frequent system downtimes continue to worsen Nigeria’s gas utilisation problem. While some countries such as the United States and Venezuela recorded reductions in flaring intensity, Nigeria, Iraq, and Libya showed little or no improvement. Experts say this signals a need for stronger investment in gas gathering and processing infrastructure to support the country’s long-term energy goals.
Despite repeated government commitments under initiatives like the Zero Routine Flaring (ZRF) programme, Nigeria still struggles to fully harness its vast natural gas reserves, estimated at over 200 trillion cubic feet. The World Bank stresses that while progress is possible—as seen in countries like Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan—Nigeria’s continued reliance on inefficient systems remains a major barrier to reducing emissions and unlocking the economic value of its gas resources.
source: nairametrics