Methane is one of the world’s most potent greenhouse gases, so reducing the amount emitted into the atmosphere can have an outsized impact on global warming. One source of methane emissions is flaring at oil and gas facilities, which is why a fast-track flare-reduction project in Egypt is so important.

A feasibility study awarded during COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh by liquified natural gas producer Egyptian LNGto a coalition of leading industrial firms, will explore implementation of a zero-flaring system at ELNG’s export terminal in Idku, Egypt.

The study will assess options for total routine flaring recovery through modifications to the existing flare and compression systems at the facility. 

Recognizing the urgency of action on methane emission reduction, the feasibility study will move quickly, aiming to transition into the front-end engineering design (FEED) phase by early 2023. Rapid delivery also is driven by the 130-country Global Methane Pledge. Signatory countries, including Egypt, have committed to reducing national methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030.

“I am so proud that the oil and gas sector is contributing significantly to achieving top strategic goals: accelerating decarbonization and economizing power consumption,” His Excellency Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Eng. Tarek El-Molla said. “I am pleased that our partners are taking such initiatives to promote these priorities.”

The ELNG project is an initiative of the Bechtel-led Coalition for Decarbonization, which includes Enppi, Petrojet, Baker Hughes, and GE Digital, that announced earlier this year an agreement to support the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral in decarbonizing existing oil and gas facilities across the country.

The implications of the modified ELNG facility could extend beyond Egypt, as exports from the facility will supply reliable, responsible, and sustainable energy to Europe, following a trilateral agreement signed earlier this year between Egypt, the European Union, and Israel. 

“Software plays a key role and is essential to accelerating the energy transition,” said GE Digital CEO Scott Reese. “Along with our partners, it’s our hope that the findings of this feasibility study will have far-reaching impact for the LNG industry in Egypt and beyond.” 

Methane is responsible for about half the net rise in global average temperatures since the pre-industrial era, but it dissipates more quickly than CO2. As such, rapidly reducing methane emissions is seen as one of the most effective strategies for keeping within reach the goal of limiting warming to 1.5˚C.

Read more stories here about GE Digital’s work to support customers’ emission reduction goals across the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Pakistan.