Nigeria produced 2.71 trillion standard cubic feet of gas in 2025, exporting about 35 per cent of the total output, according to the latest monthly gas data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
The 2025 production figure surpassed the 2.5 trillion standard cubic feet recorded in 2024. The data indicated that total gas output for 2025 stood at approximately 2.71 trillion scf, of which 942.7 billion scf was exported, representing about 34.8 per cent of total production.
According to the report, domestic gas sales during the year amounted to 780.6 billion scf, while 776.6 billion scf was utilised for field operations.
Overall, total gas utilised in 2025 reached 2.5 trillion scf, translating to a utilisation rate of 92.4 per cent. A breakdown of the production figures showed that associated gas accounted for 1.456 trillion scf, while non-associated gas production stood at 1.25 trillion scf, indicating a relatively balanced contribution from both sources.
On a monthly basis, production peaked in July at 250.9 billion scf, the highest recorded in the year. Other strong months included May, with 244.4 billion scf, and June, with 239.0 billion scf.
However, output declined sharply in September to 198.3 billion scf, the lowest monthly production recorded in 2025. Production recovered in October to 221.1 billion scf before moderating slightly in November and December, each of which recorded about 212.5 billion scf.
The commission noted that figures for October, November, and December are provisional and may be adjusted slightly after the fourth-quarter reconciliation exercise.
Export sales of 942.7 billion scf exceeded domestic sales of 780.6 billion scf by more than 162 billion scf during the year, underscoring the prominence of the export market in Nigeria’s gas sector.
Monthly export volumes reached their highest level in December at 101.9 billion scf. November recorded 90.7 billion scf, while July posted 90.3 billion scf. In contrast, exports fell to 45.4 billion scf in September, the lowest level recorded in the year.
Domestic sales were strongest in May at 73.0 billion scf and remained above 69 billion scf in both June and July. The lowest domestic sales were recorded in November at 56.2 billion scf and December at 56.1 billion scf.
The regulator’s report showed that total gas utilised during the year stood at 2.50 trillion scf, with utilisation rates remaining above 92 per cent for most months. The lowest monthly utilisation rate was recorded in September at 90.9 per cent.
Gas flaring for the year totalled 204.0 billion scf, accounting for 7.54 per cent of total production. September recorded the highest flare rate at 9.05 per cent, with about 18.0 billion scf flared. In absolute terms, July recorded the highest flared volume at 18.3 billion scf.
The lowest monthly flared volume was recorded in December at 15.4 billion scf, followed by November at 15.8 billion scf.
With exports accounting for nearly 35 per cent of total production and about 38 per cent of total utilised gas, the 2025 data highlight the strong role of the export market in Nigeria’s gas commercial landscape. Final figures for the fourth quarter remain subject to reconciliation by the regulator.
Meanwhile, despite strong utilisation levels, the flaring of about 204 billion scf during the year indicates that significant volumes of gas remain unmonetised.
The recalls that in October, the NNPC/Heirs Energies OML 17 Joint Venture signed Gas Flare Commercialisation Agreements under the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme and approved Non-NGFCP frameworks.
At the ceremony held in Lagos, the joint venture said the event marked a significant transition from regulatory approvals to structured commercial execution, enabling flare gas volumes across OML 17 to be captured and deployed for productive use, including power generation, industrial applications, cooking gas, and compressed natural gas, in alignment with Nigeria’s gas development priorities and energy-transition objectives.
The agreements brought together Heirs Energies, as operator of the OML 17 Joint Venture, and approved flare gas offtakers under frameworks designed to eliminate routine flaring while converting previously wasted resources into economic value.