The Managing Director of TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, Mathieu Bouyer, has announced plans to inaugurate a five-megawatt solar power plant at OML 58 to supply electricity to the Ubeta Gas Project, in a move that underscores the company’s push to cut emissions while expanding Nigeria’s energy output.
Bouyer disclosed this during a panel session titled ‘Capitalising on Africa’s Global Upstream Momentum’ at the 2026 NIES in Abuja, where industry leaders assessed investment flows and emerging opportunities across Africa’s oil and gas sector.
He described the solar project as a critical component of the Ubeta Gas development and said it would help position the field as one of the world’s first near-net-zero gas developments.
The five-megawatt plant is expected to provide a dedicated power supply to OML 58 operations, reducing reliance on conventional energy sources and lowering the carbon intensity of production.
“Our strategy is about growing energy as a whole,” Mr Bouyer said, noting that Nigeria remains a key market within TotalEnergies’ global portfolio and continues to compete with other countries for upstream investment capital.
Bouyer also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding Nigeria’s energy supply while reducing operational emissions. According to him, TotalEnergies’ strategy in Nigeria is built on two core pillars: increasing oil and gas production and scaling up electricity generation through integrated power solutions, in line with the company’s global ambition of delivering more energy with fewer emissions.
He explained that the company’s immediate focus is on maximising value from its existing portfolio of onshore gas and offshore oil and gas assets. Central to this plan is the recently sanctioned Ubeta Gas project, designed to deliver up to 300 million cubic feet of gas per day to the domestic market.
In addition to Ubeta, Bouyer said several other projects are currently under evaluation as the company seeks to strengthen its upstream footprint in Nigeria amid stiff global competition for capital.
On sustainability, Bouyer disclosed that TotalEnergies eliminated routine gas flaring across all its Nigerian operations in 2023, describing it as a major milestone in its emissions reduction drive. He added that the company has intensified methane monitoring by deploying advanced detection systems, including its proprietary AUSEA technology, which enables real-time emissions tracking and swift intervention.
He further revealed that 2,500 Permanent Eission Monitoring Systems have been installed across the company’s production sites in Nigeria to support transparent and measurable emissions control.
Industry observers at the summit noted that the integration of solar power into upstream operations reflects a broader shift among international oil companies operating in Nigeria to align hydrocarbon production with energy transition goals, especially as financiers increasingly demand lower-carbon projects.
Bouyer also underscored the importance of collaboration with indigenous operators in accelerating project delivery and unlocking value for the Nigerian economy. He cited long-standing joint ventures with AMNI, Conoil, and Sapetro, referencing flagship projects such as the Egina FPSO and Akpo Condensate as examples of successful partnerships between international and local players.
He disclosed ongoing work with Conoil to appraise deep offshore resources, alongside planned exploration drilling with Sapetro.
“When we work with local partners, it enables us to move faster and create value not just for ourselves, but for the country,” Bouyer said.
Beyond the plenary session, Bouyer and members of his management team interacted with students from three schools who visited the TotalEnergies exhibition booth at the summit, reinforcing the company’s focus on knowledge transfer, skills development, and nurturing the next generation of energy professionals.