Green Flare Plans 53 MW of Flare Gas Bitcoin Mine in Nigeria

Green Flare, a Nigerian startup focused on using flare gas to power Bitcoin mining, has announced plans to develop a 53-megawatt (MW) mining project in Nigeria.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Green Flare said it has signed a Gas Connection Agreement with the Oil Mining License (OML) 30 Joint Venture, in collaboration with Dawcon Energy. The agreement, developed under the oversight of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), sets the foundation for what is described as Nigeria’s first Bitcoin mining operation powered by flare gas during oil production.

The initial phase of the project will establish three mining sites in Delta State, delivering a combined capacity of 53 MW. Green Flare’s co-founder, Joseph Lassen, said the goal is to have the first two sites live by Q4. “We have begun civil works on the sites (connecting to the upstream, completing right-of-ways, preparing the site, etc.), so we are well on the way,” he said.

Green Flare has also indicated that it may expand into related areas such as artificial intelligence computing and high-performance data centers. The OML 30 Joint Venture includes the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Exploration and Production Ltd. (NNPC E&P), Shoreline Natural Resources Ltd., and Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd. (HEOSL). Beyond mining operations, the project plans to supply electricity to rural communities in the region.

Nigeria is among the largest gas-flaring countries globally. This initiative aligns with the country’s broader efforts to reduce gas flaring and promote alternative energy uses. According to the World Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership, Nigeria consistently ranks among the top flaring nations, alongside Russia, Iraq, Iran, and the United States. In 2022, Nigeria flared approximately 7.3 billion cubic meters of gas, placing it among the top six flaring countries globally.