BY ADENEKAN VICTORIA FAITH
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.
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 is taking concrete action to reduce emissions. 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. In 2025, more than 2,500 sensors were installed to enable real-time methane leaks 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 valorising Nigerian resources while lowering emissions.”