In a bid to maintain its leading role in the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry, Seplat Energy Plc appoints Tony Elumelu to its board upon Olivier Cleret De Langavant’s exit, while the company reaffirms environmentally responsible operations, backs the Nigerian Exchange Group’s net-zero drive, just as its 300 MMscfd ANOH Gas Project, powered to operate with zero routine flares, as well as a 16MW power plant and other supporting facilities delivers its first gas output
By Edu Abade
Seplat Energy Plc has, again, restated that oil and gas will continue to play a critical role in Nigeria’s energy mix, while stressing the need for operators to carry out their activities in an environmentally responsible, efficient, accountable and sustainable manner.
Director, Gas & New Energy, Seplat Energy Plc, Okechukwu Mba, who represented the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brown, articulated the company’s position at a high-level climate roundtable organised by the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group) in partnership with Germany’s development finance institution, DEG and the Africa Foresight Group (AFG) in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, Mba noted that the real issue facing Nigeria’s energy sector is not whether oil and gas should exist, but how operators manage their responsibilities to the environment, society, and the economy.
“Oil and gas will remain an important part of Nigeria’s energy mix for some time to come. The right conversation is not whether oil and gas should exist, but how operators conduct themselves responsibly,” he said, stressing that responsible operations must be driven by concrete actions, including improved efficiency, reduced emissions and credible offsetting strategies.
Mba explained that at Seplat Energy, this commitment is already being translated into measurable outcomes. He disclosed that the company had launched a comprehensive programme several years ago to end routine gas flaring across all its onshore operations, adding that by the end of last year, all the projects required to achieve this milestone had been delivered and were currently at the commissioning stage.
“Very soon, we will be able to clearly state that routine flaring has ended in our onshore operations. This is an important milestone that speaks to our stewardship of the environment, while remaining focused on delivering energy to the nation,” he said.
He further highlighted Seplat Energy’s deployment of technology to enhance operational efficiency, including real-time monitoring of emissions across pipelines, valves, plants and other critical infrastructure, supported by a robust asset integrity programme designed to identify and eliminate emissions.
Beyond operational measures, Mba said the company is also implementing nature-based solutions to offset emissions. In one of its host communities in Edo State, Seplat Energy has launched an afforestation programme committing to plant millions of trees over a five-year period, with the first phase already completed.
He also pointed to the company’s investments in gas and LPG infrastructure as part of efforts to reduce emissions beyond its direct operations, maintaining that expanding access to LPG helps reduce reliance on firewood, charcoal and other biomass fuels, particularly in communities outside major cities.
Following Seplat Energy’s offshore acquisition, he noted that LPG that was previously exported has now been redirected to the domestic market, significantly improving availability, affordability, and overall market quality.
Mba also underscored the urgent need for financing to support Nigeria’s energy transition, particularly gas and gas-to-power projects, noting that while only about five Gigawatts of electricity currently come from the national grid, a much larger share of power is self-generated through petrol and diesel generators that produce significantly higher emissions.
“If we replace these inefficient power sources with gas-powered energy, we can achieve substantial de-carbonisation. But without adequate financing, these projects cannot be implemented, and the benefits will not be realized,” he said.
The event marked the launch of the NGX Net-Zero Programme (N-Zero), an initiative designed to support listed companies in defining net-zero pathways, improving climate-related disclosures and aligning with global investor expectations. The programme is expected to unlock between $2.5billion and $3.1billion in climate-linked capital for Nigerian companies.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Umaru Kwairanga, Group Chairman of NGX Group, said Africa’s capital markets must take a leading role in driving climate action and sustainable growth, adding that the NGX Net-Zero Programme would help companies move from climate ambition to measurable action.
Also presenting the investment case, Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director of NGX Group, noted that climate risk has become a critical factor in valuation and capital allocation globally, while Ms. Monika Beck, a member of the Management Board of DEG, said the partnership aligns with DEG’s strategy of mobilising private capital to accelerate climate action while delivering measurable development impact.
In a related development, the leading Nigerian independent energy company listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited and London Stock Exchange, “Seplat” or the “Company”, disclosed that its 300 MMscfd ANOH Gas Project, powered to operate with zero routine flares, as well as a 16MW power plant and other supporting facilities has achieved it first gas output.
Following completion of the 11km Indorama gas export pipeline project, which was delivered without any lost time incident across 17.5-million-man hours and receipt of regulatory approval from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) on Friday January 16, 2026, the ANOH Gas Processing Company (AGPC) commenced gas supply to Indorama, under a solid off-take Gas Sales Agreements (GSAs). To enable the flow of gas, the four upstream wells, which had been on standby since November 2025, were powered online.
Since first gas, wet gas production has been stabilizing, delivering 40-52 MMscfd of processed gas directly from the ANOH gas plant to the Indorama Petrochemical Plant. Condensate production has reached 2.0-2.5 kboepd and is expected to increase with gas production as the plant ramps up to design capacity.
In addition, preparations are underway to initiate sales of processed gas to the Nigeria LNG (NLNG) with an off-take agreement structured on an interruptible basis and will support the gas plant to further scale production towards full design capacity of 300MMscfd.
A statement made available to journalists revealed that the construction of the OB3 pipeline export route by the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), originally designated as the primary channel for ANOH gas supply to the domestic market, has resumed and a revised completion date will be communicated in due course.
The ANOH Gas Plant was developed by AGPC, an incorporated joint venture between Seplat Energy and the NGIC. The integrated plant comprises two 150 MMscfd gas processing units, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) recovery units, condensate stabilization units, a 16MW power plant and other supporting facilities and has been built to operate with zero routine flares.
Across the unitized field of OML 53 and OML 21, the ANOH gas plant unlocks an estimated 4.6 Tcf condensate rich gas resource base. Seplat’s working interest 2P reserves in the unitized field, as booked at year end 2024, stood at 0.8Tcf. Seplat will derive value from two distinct income streams: Wet gas sales from OML 53 to the ANOH gas plant and dividends from its 50 percent equity ownership in AGPC.
The LPG produced from ANOH, combined with the LPG production at Sapele and the Bonny River Terminal (BRT), will make Seplat a leading supplier of clean cooking fuel to the domestic market. In addition, the ANOH gas plant will process the flared gas from the Ohaji field, enabling Seplat to achieve its onshore End of Routine Flaring programme, one of the company’s key commercial and sustainability initiatives.
The ANOH gas plant has been developed without a single recordable Lost Time Incident (LTI) across 17.5 million-man hours, a testament to the focus of the whole team on safe and secure operations.
Commenting on the feat, Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy, Roger Brown, said: “ANOH is the first of the seven critical gas development projects identified by the Federal Government to commence operations. It is an important strategic project for Seplat, our partner NGIC, and Nigeria as a whole. It has taken a significant amount of commitment and hard work to complete the project in a part of the onshore Niger Delta with limited gas pipeline infrastructure, and we are extremely proud of this achievement. This is our third major gas processing facility onshore and increases our Joint Venture gross gas processing capacity onshore to over 850 MMscfd.
“ANOH will provide material income streams for Seplat, reduce our carbon intensity and contribute significantly to the 2030 production target of 200 kboepd, set at our recent CMD. It will also increase energy access for Nigerians in terms of both power and clean cooking fuel for the local communities, while advancing delivery of our mission to support economic prosperity in Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, following the Company’s prior announcement regarding the sale of Etablissements Maurel et Prom SA (“M&P”) 20.07 percent shareholding in Seplat to a combination of Heirs Holdings Limited and Heirs Energies Limited, the Board of Seplat Energy has announced the resignation of Olivier Cleret De Langavant as a Non-Executive Director effective January 22, 2026.
Langavant, who joined the Board on January 28, 2020 as a nominee of M&P, has rendered exceptional service throughout his tenure, providing strategic technical counsel and invaluable insights that have materially supported the Company’s progress, according to statement signed by Mrs. Edith Onwuchekwa, Director Legal and Company Secretary at Seplat Energy.
The Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony O. Elumelu, as a Non-Executive Director on the Board effective 22 January 22, 2026. Elumelu is a distinguished African investor and philanthropist, globally recognized as one of the most prominent voices on Africa’s transformation agenda. He is the Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, a diversified investment company with interests across strategic sectors of the African economy, including energy, power, banking, insurance, technology, real estate, hospitality and healthcare.
He also serves as Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group, Heirs Energies, Transcorp Group, whose subsidiaries include Transcorp Power and Transcorp Hotels Plc, Nigeria’s foremost hospitality brand.
He established The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading philanthropy dedicated to empowering African entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries in 2010. His global influence has been widely acknowledged, including recognition as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World (2020) and the conferment of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (2022).
He also serves on several global boards, including UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited Global Leadership Council and the International Monetary Fund’s Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth.
“We are confident that Elumelu’s extensive experience and visionary leadership will significantly advance Seplat Energy’s strategic objectives and reinforce the Company’s commitment to sustainable growth and long-term success. Please join us in expressing our deepest gratitude to Langavant for his outstanding service and welcoming Elumelu to the Board,” the statement reads.
Chairman of Seplat Energy Plc, Udoma Udo Udoma, said, “On behalf of the Board and Management, I wish to express our profound appreciation to Langavant for his outstanding contribution to Seplat Energy over the past six years. His expertise and commitment have been instrumental in driving our strategic initiatives. We warmly welcome Elumelu to the Board and look forward to leveraging his wealth of experience and leadership as we continue to pursue sustainable growth and value creation for all stakeholders.”
