TotalEnergies has deepened its methane-reduction cooperation with Angola’s national oil company, Sonangol, as part of a wider push with Petronas and Oil India to achieve near-zero upstream methane emissions by 2030.
The announcement was made during an Abu Dhabi meeting of Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC) members, TotalEnergies reported on November 1.
TotalEnergies and Sonangol signed a memorandum of understanding for technical cooperation on methane reduction and decarbonization. The agreement draws on TotalEnergies’ AUSEA technology, a drone-mounted dual sensor that detects methane and carbon dioxide and helps identify emission sources, and covers detection, measurement, monitoring and reduction of methane.
The two companies will also seek practical ways to reduce flaring, improve energy efficiency, electrify facilities and advance carbon management. The partnership includes greenhouse-gas reporting, technical training and knowledge sharing, while the companies explore financing options, including possible support from the World Bank’s Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) Fund.
“Sharing technologies, expertise and best practices” can accelerate concrete action, TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné said, emphasizing the common 2030 goal.
The Angola agreement sits alongside a second AUSEA field campaign with Oil India, following an initial month-long survey of 20 OIL-operated sites in Assam that supported emissions reporting. In Malaysia, TotalEnergies will help Petronas, JOGMEC and JGC develop SEA METEC, a regional center for evaluating methane measurement and monitoring technologies.
For Angola, the MOU signals a shift from broad decarbonization pledges toward measurable emissions work: locating leaks, improving data quality and identifying fundable projects. It also aligns Sonangol with OGDC members’ commitment to near-zero upstream methane emissions by 2030, first launched at COP28 in Dubai.
