Dawcon and Green Flare Turn Wasted Gas into Clean Power for Nigeria’s Tech Future

In the past 10 years alone, approximately 86.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas have been wasted at oil sites across Nigeria. In just the first quarter of 2025, this cost Nigeria over $345 million.

But the cost isn’t just economic, it’s also environmental. Gas flare pollutes the air, damages the soil, and contaminates water.

Now, Dawcon Energy and Green Flare Holdings, in a bold new project, want to rewrite that story.

A Plan To Turn Nigeria’s Flared Gas Into Digital Power

On May 21, 2025, in Abuja, Dawcon Energy signed a gas connection agreement to launch Nigeria’s first project that turns flare gas into power for digital infrastructures, in partnership with Green Flare Holdings.

This agreement is backed by key regulators, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP). It also involves the main joint venture partners operating OML 30, such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Exploration and Production (E&P), Shoreline Natural Resources Ltd., and Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd (HEOSL).

The idea is simple: instead of burning gas in the air, the otherwise flared natural gas will now be captured and used to run data centres. It will begin by powering Bitcoin mining and later expand to support AI, high-performance computing, and nearby rural communities.

The first phase is set to launch at three sites in Delta State. The sites are expected to generate 53 megawatts of off-grid electricity, enough not just for industrial machines, but also to light up homes that have lived without reliable power for years.

And that will just be the beginning.

Dawcon Energy and Green Flare Holdings Vision for Nigeria and the World

In Nigeria, flaring has long been a source of illness, environmental damage, and lost revenue. But this initiative offers a way to mitigate these environmental issues, while finally tapping into the economic value of what was once waste.

Even more, it gives the country a foothold in the global tech space. With access to large reserves of stranded gas, Nigeria can now attract and sustain energy-hungry enterprises; opening new doors for young people to enter the world of digital infrastructure, from crypto to AI.

As Efa Imoke, Director at Dawcon Energy, put it: “This GCA isn’t just a contract. It’s a catalyst. It shows what’s possible when regulatory determination and innovation come together. It marks a milestone in the effort to monetize Nigeria’s flare gas potential, aligning with government’s energy transition ambitions, the rights of host communities and the development of digital infrastructure in Nigeria. Reaffirming our commitment to responsible energy development, long-term value creation, and nurturing partnerships, Dawcon is proud to lead this charge alongside Green Flare and the OML 30 partners.”

Given the abundance of natural gas that’s currently being wasted, Dawcon and Green Flare are positioning themselves to become globally competitive from a profitability and scale standpoint.

How The Project Solves Three Major Problems at Once

Experts said gas flaring rose in 2023, reaching 148 billion cubic meters (the highest level since 2019). But it shouldn’t have to go to waste.

With Dawcon and Green Flare’s new project in Nigeria, this could mean:

• Cleaner energy shift: By capturing flare gas instead of burning it, the project helps cut air pollution and reduce harmful emissions that contribute to climate change.
• Electrification of Underserved Regions: The generated electricity would be used for powering homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
• Technological Growth: The extra power will drive energy-hungry industries like crypto mining, Artificial Intelligence, and data processing, opening the door for Nigeria to lead in the digital economy in Africa and attract global tech investors.

All of which come together to boost local industries and create new income streams, leading to a greener and more efficient economy.

Conclusion: Nigeria Can Have a Climate-Aligned Future

As Charles Majomi, Co-Founder of Green Flare Holdings, put it: “For decades, flare gas was fire wasted to the sky—toxic, unclaimed, and forgotten. Today, with this agreement, we begin to rewrite that story; turning it into clean power for people, for technological progress, and for a future that doesn’t cost the Earth”.

This isn’t just a fix. It’s a vision, a new kind of progress. One where Africa’s long-standing problems don’t just disappear…but get transformed into the solutions.

References:

Natural Gas Flaring Costs Nigeria $16 Trillion in a Decade. (naturenews.africa)

Nigeria loses $345.9m to gas flaring in Q1, 2025 (businessamlive.com)

From Flare to Fortune: Mining Bitcoin Off-Grid with Stranded Gas (braiins.com)

Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report, June 2024 (punchng.com)

Gas Flaring in Nigeria – Les Amis de la Terre (amisdelaterre.org)

Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme – NGFCP Home (ngfcpnuprc.azurewebsites.net)

NCDMB Commends Heritage Energy, Pledges Support for OML 30 Projects (ncdmb.gov.ng)

The benefits of methane mitigation and reduction in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector (afripoli.org)