Near Zero Methane and Zero Flaring: Supporting tangible action in emerging producers

The NPG is organising a one week training on minimising emissions from the petroleum sector, which will kick off an Emissions Policy Lab for each of the participating countries.

In the Policy Lab model, we identify through discussion with member countries an issue of critical importance to a specific group of members and then initiate a 6–12-month programme of support for that group to help them understand the issue and then design and implement solutions. Rather than being designed in its entirety at the start, a Policy Lab instead offers a flexible and adaptive platform through which the full spectrum of NPG and external support modalities can be delivered as needs and demand arise. This platform allows the NPG to respond dynamically to the problems and challenges members encounter as they seek to both define and implement policy.

The expected outcomes of the Emissions Policy Lab are that participating countries will have:

• A deeper understanding of emissions reduction issues and options
• Clarified their policy objectives and agenda
• Defined an implementation roadmap

The lab start with a training-workshop. The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy of Senegal will host the training. Three other African emerging producers will be selected to participate – invitations to participate will be sent to Senegal, Mauritania, Ghana, Namibia, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Simultaneous French-English translation will be provided.

The trainings are delivered in partnership with RMI, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, and the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative.

Key outcomes of the training are for each country to have a clear view of how emissions will grow in their country as a result of their projects and levers to lower emissions in specific projects. The NPG team will engage with each country delegation ahead the course to review objectives and to help each participant prepare the data that will be used in the practical manipulation of tools and exercises at the training.

During the training, facilitated discussions will aim to further clarify the gaps, needs, and required policy changes identified by agencies at the first training on emissions. This will guide the follow up engagement with the participating governments after the training.