TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited and NNPC Limited have renewed their cooperation agreement for the deployment of Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications (AUSEA) technology, extending by 24 months a partnership that began in December 2023 to enhance methane detection, measurement and reduction across oil and gas operations.

AUSEA is an advanced drone-based emissions monitoring technology developed by TotalEnergies in collaboration with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Reims. The technology provides highly accurate detection and measurement of methane and carbon dioxide emissions, enabling operators to identify emission sources and implement targeted mitigation measures.

The renewed agreement underscores the commitment of both companies to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting Nigeria’s environmental sustainability objectives within the energy sector.

Speaking on the extension of the partnership, Country Chair and Managing Director of TotalEnergies in Nigeria, Matthieu Bouyer, said the collaboration would help accelerate emissions reduction efforts in the country.

“Extending our partnership with NNPC allows us to support our partner in its journey to reduce methane emissions by leveraging a proven, cutting-edge technology that improves measurement and accelerates action.

It is an important step for Nigeria as it helps maximise the value of the country’s resources while lowering emissions,” Bouyer stated.

As part of its broader decarbonisation strategy, TotalEnergies has intensified efforts to curb emissions across its operations. The company became the first upstream operator in Nigeria to eliminate routine gas flaring from all its operated assets by the end of 2023 and is targeting near-zero methane emissions by 2030.

To support this goal, AUSEA monitoring campaigns have been deployed across all operated sites, with annual drone flights conducted to identify and address methane leaks. In 2025 alone, the company installed more than 2,500 sensors for real-time methane leak detection, enabling faster response and remediation.