TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited and NNPC Limited have agreed to continue their collaboration on methane emissions monitoring and reduction through the deployment of advanced AUSEA technology.
The renewed agreement will run for another 24 months, building on a partnership that began in December 2023. The initiative is aimed at improving the detection and measurement of methane emissions while supporting efforts to reduce the environmental impact of oil and gas operations.
AUSEA, an acronym for Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications, is a drone-based system designed to accurately identify methane and carbon dioxide emissions. The technology was developed by TotalEnergies in partnership with France’s National Centre for Scientific Research and the University of Reims.
The system enables operators to locate emission sources with high precision, providing data that can be used to implement corrective measures and improve environmental performance.
TotalEnergies said the partnership reflects its commitment to lowering greenhouse gas emissions across its operations. The company noted that it ended routine gas flaring at all its operated assets in Nigeria by the close of 2023 and is targeting near-zero methane emissions by 2030.
As part of the emissions reduction programme, aerial surveys using the AUSEA system are conducted across the company’s operated facilities to identify leaks and support mitigation efforts.
The company also revealed that more than 2,500 sensors were installed in 2025 to strengthen real-time monitoring of methane emissions and allow for faster response to detected leaks.
Commenting on the extension of the agreement, TotalEnergies Country Chair and Managing Director in Nigeria, Matthieu Bouyer, said the continued collaboration would help accelerate efforts to reduce methane emissions while improving the management of Nigeria’s energy resources.
He added that the use of advanced monitoring technology would support more accurate emissions measurement and contribute to the country’s broader environmental and sustainability objectives.
