This week, the IEA convened a regional workshop in Abuja, Nigeria, focused on translating commitments to reduce methane emissions into concrete action. Co-hosted with Nigeria's Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the African Energy Commission (AFREC), the workshop explored regional opportunities and challenges, while sharing international best practices and cost-effective solutions.
The event brought together over 100 participants from across Africa and beyond, including government officials, regulators, industry representatives and international organisations. In addition to the host country, Nigeria, participants from eight other African countries joined from across the continent, representing Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Mauritania, Mozambique, Senegal and Uganda.
It follows two previous regional workshops on methane abatement that have taken place as part of the IEA's Global Methane Engagement Programme. The first, held in October 2024 in Baku with Azerbaijan's COP29 Presidency, focused on the Caucasus and Central Asia. The second took place in Lima in July 2025 in partnership with the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) and Peru's Ministry of Energy, with a focus on Latin America and the Caribbean.
At each event, experts highlighted the latest data on methane emissions and methods for reducing them. Participants discussed how pledges could be turned into supportive plans, policies and regulations in their respective regions, as well as the data tools available for monitoring progress and the options available for financing abatement projects. A key focus has also been on opportunities for regional cooperation.
The Engagement Programme has now brought together over 500 people from 35 countries to discuss pathways for reducing methane emissions. The next instalment will take place in early next year, with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa region.
According to the IEA's Global Methane Tracker 2025, methane emissions from fossil fuels remain stubbornly high despite improvements in data and transparency. Current pledges by companies and countries to tackle methane cover 80% of global oil and gas production.
Around 70% of annual methane emissions from the energy sector could be avoided with existing technologies. Meanwhile, a significant share of abatement measures could pay for themselves within a year, since the gas that is captured can be sold.
The IEA also released two new reports related to methane abatement this week. Pledges to Progress 2025 - produced in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) - provides an initial assessment of the actions taken by over 100 oil and gas companies to deliver on their ambitions to reduce emissions.
A separate report explores strategies for national oil companies (NOCs) looking to curb methane emissions and flaring. It finds that rapid and cost-effective measures to tackle methane emissions by these companies could deliver an annual reduction of up to 30 million tonnes (Mt) of methane by 2030, which is comparable to eliminating all carbon dioxide emissions from the global aviation industry.
