Nigeria’s gas flaring rate climbed to 7.48 per cent in August 2026, marking the highest level recorded since October 2025.

The increase was reflected in the volume of gas flared, which rose to 18,350.55 million standard cubic feet during the month.

Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission showed that the August figure was only slightly lower than the 7.55 per cent recorded in October 2025.

The rise indicates a temporary setback in efforts to reduce the practice of burning associated gas during oil production.

Despite the higher flaring rate, overall gas utilisation remained relatively strong at 92.5 per cent. A total of 227,088.59 million standard cubic feet of gas was used for field operations, domestic supply and exports during the period.

The continued high utilisation rate suggests that a large share of produced gas is still being put to productive use rather than wasted. However, the uptick in flaring has drawn attention to the need for stronger measures to curb the practice.

Industry observers note that reducing gas flaring remains important for both environmental protection and the full commercialisation of Nigeria’s gas resources. The latest figures highlight the ongoing challenge of maintaining progress in this area.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper