- Carbon Emissions From Natural Gas Flaring refers to the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted as a result of burning (flaring) natural gas during oil and gas production, processing, and extraction activities within a given year.
Africa Carbon Emissions From Natural Gas Flaring was 60.80 Million Tonnes in 2023, up 2.7% on 2022. Carbon Emissions From Natural Gas Flaring in Africa Between 2015 and 2023 provides a comprehensive assessment of regional flaring-related carbon emissions, highlighting historical trends, production dynamics, and environmental implications across the oil and gas industry.
Africa Carbon Emissions From Natural Gas Flaring moved from 67.00 Million Tonnes in 2015 to 60.80 Million Tonnes in 2023 (−9.3%), an average of −1.2% a year. The series high was 67.20 Million Tonnes in 2019 and the low 59.00 Million Tonnes in 2020.
The gap between the series high (2019) and low (2020) is 8.20 Million Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was −12.2% in 2020.
Within Africa, Algeria has the highest value in 2023 at 16.70 Million Tonnes, 27.5% of the regional total.
Country ranking
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By region
Million Tonnes, 2023. Each bar is that region's total.
Full series
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Million Tonnes.
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| Year | Million Tonnes | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 60.80 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 59.20 | −3.1% |
| 2021 | 61.10 | +3.6% |
| 2020 Trough | 59.00 | −12.2% |
| 2019Peak | 67.20 | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 65.30 | −0.8% |
| 2017 | 65.80 | −0.6% |
| 2016 | 66.20 | −1.2% |
| 2015 | 67.00 | — |
Data definition
Carbon Emissions From Natural Gas Flaring — - Carbon Emissions From Natural Gas Flaring refers to the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted as a result of burning (flaring) natural gas during oil and gas production, processing, and extraction activities within a given year. Natural gas flaring is commonly used to dispose of excess or unwanted gas that cannot be economically captured, transported, or utilized. The indicator is typically measured in million tonnes of carbon dioxide (MtCO₂) and serves as an important measure of emissions associated with upstream oil and gas operations, operational efficiency, and environmental performance.
The data includes CO₂ emissions generated from the controlled combustion of natural gas through routine and non-routine flaring at oil fields, gas processing facilities, refineries, offshore production platforms, and other petroleum production sites. It covers emissions from associated gas flaring during crude oil extraction as well as flaring conducted for operational safety, equipment maintenance, testing, emergencies, and production management. The indicator is compiled using standardized international methodologies based on reported flaring volumes, satellite observations, and emission conversion factors, enabling consistent comparison of flaring-related emissions across countries and over time.
The data excludes carbon emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels for electricity generation, industrial production, transportation, residential, and commercial energy use that are unrelated to natural gas flaring. It also excludes methane emissions released through venting, fugitive emissions from oil and gas infrastructure, and greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide unless specifically converted into CO₂-equivalent values. Emissions from land-use change, industrial processes, waste management, and agriculture are not included. Additionally, the indicator does not account for emissions avoided through gas recovery, reinjection, or utilization projects, and minor variations may occur due to differences in national reporting methods, satellite detection, and estimation techniques.
Carbon Emissions From Natural Gas Flaring — - Carbon Emissions From Natural Gas Flaring refers to the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted as a result of burning (flaring) natural gas during oil and gas production, processing, and extraction activities within a given year. Natural gas flaring is commonly used to dispose of excess or unwanted gas that cannot be economically captured, transported, or utilized. The indicator is typically measured in million tonnes of carbon dioxide (MtCO₂) and serves as an important measure of emissions associated with upstream oil and gas operations, operational efficiency, and environmental performance.
Africa remains a major oil and gas producing region where natural gas flaring is influenced by upstream production levels, infrastructure constraints, associated gas utilization, and environmental regulations. The region recorded 67.0 million tonnes of carbon emissions from natural gas flaring in 2015, followed by 66.2 million tonnes in 2016 and 65.8 million tonnes in 2017. Emissions declined slightly to 65.3 million tonnes in 2018 before increasing to 67.2 million tonnes in 2019. A notable reduction occurred in 2020, when emissions fell to 59.0 million tonnes, followed by 61.1 million tonnes in 2021, 59.2 million tonnes in 2022, and 60.8 million tonnes in 2023. Algeria remained one of the region's leading contributors, with emissions fluctuating between 16.4 million tonnes and 19.6 million tonnes during the period, declining from 19.5 million tonnes in 2015 to 16.7 million tonnes in 2023. Nigeria also recorded substantial emissions, varying from 15.1 million tonnes in 2015 to 11.5 million tonnes in 2023, reflecting continued efforts to reduce routine flaring despite fluctuations in production. Egypt maintained comparatively lower emissions, decreasing from 6.1 million tonnes in 2015 to 4.4 million tonnes in both 2022 and 2023. The remaining African countries collectively represented the largest share of regional emissions, fluctuating between 20.9 million tonnes and 28.2 million tonnes, with an overall increase toward the end of the reporting period. Overall, the regional trend highlights the influence of oil and gas production, infrastructure expansion, regulatory initiatives, and gas recovery investments on flaring emissions, providing valuable insights into Africa's progress toward reducing environmental impacts while supporting continued energy sector development.
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Definition- Carbon Emissions From Natural Gas Flaring refers to the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted as a result of burning (flaring) natural gas during oil and gas production, processing, and extraction activities within a given year. Natural gas flaring is commonly used to dispose of excess or unwanted gas that cannot be economically captured, transported, or utilized. The indicator is typically measured in million tonnes of carbon dioxide (MtCO₂) and serves as an important measure of emissions associated with upstream oil and gas operations, operational efficiency, and environmental performance.
Africa Carbon Emissions From Natural Gas Flaring was 60.80 Million Tonnes in 2023, up 2.7% on 2022.
Africa Carbon Emissions From Natural Gas Flaring moved from 67.00 Million Tonnes in 2015 to 60.80 Million Tonnes in 2023 (−9.3%), an average of −1.2% a year. The series high was 67.20 Million Tonnes in 2019 and the low 59.00 Million Tonnes in 2020.
The highest value was 67.20 Million Tonnes in 2019 and the lowest was 59.00 Million Tonnes in 2020.
Included: The data includes CO₂ emissions generated from the controlled combustion of natural gas through routine and non-routine flaring at oil fields, gas processing facilities, refineries, offshore production platforms, and other petroleum production sites. It covers emissions from associated gas flaring during crude oil extraction as well as flaring conducted for operational safety, equipment maintenance, testing, emergencies, and production management. The indicator is compiled using standardized international methodologies based on reported flaring volumes, satellite observations, and emission conversion factors, enabling consistent comparison of flaring-related emissions across countries and over time. Excluded: The data excludes carbon emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels for electricity generation, industrial production, transportation, residential, and commercial energy use that are unrelated to natural gas flaring. It also excludes methane emissions released through venting, fugitive emissions from oil and gas infrastructure, and greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide unless specifically converted into CO₂-equivalent values. Emissions from land-use change, industrial processes, waste management, and agriculture are not included. Additionally, the indicator does not account for emissions avoided through gas recovery, reinjection, or utilization projects, and minor variations may occur due to differences in national reporting methods, satellite detection, and estimation techniques.
The series is sourced from energyinst.org (https://www.energyinst.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1542714/684_EI_Stat_Review_V16_DIGITAL.pdf). It covers 2015–2023 and is reported in Million Tonnes.
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