TotalEnergies, NNPC Renew AUSEA Technology Cooperation On Methane Reduction

TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited and NNPC Limited have renewed their cooperation agreement for the deployment of AUSEA technology, extending for 24 months a partnership launched in December 2023 to support methane detection, measurement, and reduction.

According to a statement by the company, AUSEA, which stands for Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications, is a drone-based technology developed by TotalEnergies in partnership with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Reims. It enables high-precision monitoring of methane and CO₂ emissions, helping identify sources and guide mitigation actions.

As a responsible operator, TotalEnergies said it is taking concrete action to reduce emissions.

The international oil company noted that the company was the first E&P operator in Nigeria to eliminate routine flaring across all its operated assets at the end of 2023 and has set a clear ambition to reach near-zero methane emissions by 2030.

AUSEA campaigns are now deployed across all operated sites, with annual flights to identify and reduce methane emissions.

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In 2025, more than 2,500 sensors were installed to enable real-time methane leak detection and quick actions.

Matthieu Bouyer, Country Chair and Managing Director, said: “Extending our partnership with NNPC allows us to support our partner in their journey to reduce methane emissions, by leveraging a cutting-edge proven technology, improving measurement, and accelerating action. It’s an important step for Nigeria as it helps valorise Nigerian resources while lowering emissions.”