TotalEnergies Nigeria, NNPC Renew Drone Deal to Cut Methane Emissions

TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited and NNPC Limited have renewed their cooperation agreement to deploy AUSEA drone technology for methane detection, measurement, and reduction, extending for 24 months a partnership first launched in December 2023.

AUSEA — short for Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications — is a drone-based monitoring system developed by TotalEnergies in partnership with the French National Centre for Scientific Research and the University of Reims. The technology enables high-precision monitoring of methane and CO₂ emissions to pinpoint sources and support mitigation efforts.

TotalEnergies said in a statement on Wednesday that it is scaling the use of AUSEA across its operated assets as part of its emissions-reduction strategy. The company said it eliminated routine flaring across all its operated sites in Nigeria at the end of 2023 and is targeting near-zero methane emissions by 2030. It added that AUSEA campaigns are now deployed across all operated sites, with annual flights aimed at identifying and reducing methane emissions. In 2025, the company said it installed more than 2,500 sensors to enable real-time methane leak detection and faster response.

Matthieu Bouyer, TotalEnergies’ country chair and managing director, said the renewed agreement will help accelerate measurement and action on methane. 

“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,” he said. “It’s an important step for Nigeria as it helps valorising Nigerian resources while lowering emissions.”