NESREA, Partners Launch Carbon Capture Initiative For Industrial Decarbonisation

Nigeria has taken a major step toward tackling climate change and industrial emissions with the launch of a Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Initiative Platform in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The platform, unveiled by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency in collaboration with the Africa Carbon Management Technology & Innovation Centre of Excellence and supported by the Clean Energy Ministerial Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage Initiative, is designed to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

Director-general of NESREA, Innocent Barikor, described the initiative as a critical milestone in the country’s journey toward environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and industrial transformation.

He said the CCUS framework offers an economically viable pathway for reducing emissions across key sectors, noting that captured carbon can be repurposed for industrial uses such as beverage production, cement manufacturing, chemicals, fuels, enhanced oil recovery and agriculture.

“We are building a circular economy that turns environmental challenges into economic opportunities,” Barikor said, stressing the need to reduce atmospheric carbon to beneficial levels through innovative storage and reuse systems.

According to him, the CCUS Platform is structured as a collaborative ecosystem bringing together government institutions, industry leaders, academia, technology developers, investors and development partners to drive coordinated action.

Vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Owunari Georgewill, commended the initiative, describing it as a practical mechanism to advance Nigeria’s 2035 climate targets and broader energy transition goals.

Georgewill noted that the institution is well positioned to host the initiative, citing the capacity of its Energy Technology Institute to support research and innovation critical to the success of CCUS deployment in Nigeria.

Coordinator of ACMTI, Richard Victor Osu, said the project aims to position Nigeria as a regional leader in carbon management technologies while strengthening Africa’s contribution to global decarbonisation efforts.

He explained that Port Harcourt was selected as a strategic hub due to its potential as a CCUS centre, with the platform set to drive research, capacity building, investment promotion and public-private partnerships, alongside collaboration with international technology partners.

Also speaking, Juho Lipponen, said the initiative would support Nigeria in elevating CCUS within global clean energy discussions, improving deployment programmes, mobilising finance and strengthening international partnerships.

The hybrid launch attracted participants and experts from across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and South America, underscoring growing global interest in Nigeria’s carbon management ambitions.

Key stakeholders at the event included the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, National Council on Climate Change, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Rivers State Ministry of Environment, academia, private sector operators and development partners.