Nigeria, Dec. 13 -- The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) said it has issued permits to 28 companies to access flare gas, marking a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions and boosting energy production in the country.

The Nigerian government launched the National Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme in 2016 to involve third-party investors or off-takers in harnessing gas released as a byproduct of oil production.

The programme was one of the government's initiatives to drive the attainment of zero routine gas flaring by 2035 and net zero emissions by 2060 in the country.

The government said 226 companies submitted bids before the project was suspended at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. ...