German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, has disclosed that Nigeria lost an estimated $1.5 billion to gas flaring in 2024 after burning 5.3 billion cubic metres of associated gas, ranking the country seventh globally in gas flare volumes.
Günther made the disclosure on Wednesday during a fireside chat at the ongoing 25th Nigeria Oil and Gas, NOG, Energy Week in Abuja, themed, “Advancing Energy Ambitions for Competitive and Resilient Economies.”
She said Germany had launched a new programme aimed at converting flare gas into economic value for Nigerian households, industries and potential hydrogen production as part of its long-standing energy partnership with Nigeria.
According to the ambassador, the initiative follows the signing of the 2025 Joint Declaration of Intent on Bilateral Energy Transition Dialogue and Cooperation between both countries.
“Just for context, 5.3 billion cubic meters of gas was flared in 2024 in Nigeria, which makes it the seventh rank in the world and that equals an economic loss of US$1.5 billion,” Günther said.
She explained that the new programme would focus on utilising flare gas more efficiently to reduce emissions, generate economic value and supply gas to households, industries and emerging hydrogen projects.
The ambassador said the German-Nigerian energy partnership began in 2008 and has expanded over the years through several initiatives, including the establishment of an energy desk at the German-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce in 2012 and the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) in 2013.
She noted that the NESP, implemented by GIZ, has been running for more than a
