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The EU is finalizing work on a new regulation on tracking methane emissions

Posted on by darion

The regulation is part of the EU “Fit for 55” package. Source: Christian Lue/Unsplash.

The Council of the European Union (EU) has given final consent to a regulation aimed at tracking and reducing methane emissions in the energy sector.

The move introduces new requirements for measuring, reporting and verifying methane emissions, with a focus on transparency and compliance regarding methane emitted from oil, gas and coal imports.

The regulation, part of the “Fit for 55” package, requires operators to measure emissions at source and submit monitoring reports verified by independent bodies.

National authorities will carry out periodic inspections to ensure compliance with these new standards.

Operators are now required to detect and repair methane leaks, with a specific schedule established to repair or replace leaking components.

The new regulations also prohibit the discharge and flaring of methane from certain facilities until 2025 and 2027, respectively, except in emergency situations or breakdowns.

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In addition, the EU will track methane emissions from imported oil, gas and coal, using global monitoring tools to increase transparency.

Belgian Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten said: “Methane, a short-lived climate pollutant up to 30 times more potent than CO₂, is the second most important greenhouse gas. To meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C and achieving climate neutrality by 2050, we must reduce methane emissions from the oil, gas and coal sectors. This legislation ensures that emissions are properly monitored and problems in these value chains are addressed.

According to Reutersfrom 2030, the EU plans to impose “methane maximum values” on fossil fuels on the European market, which will result in potential financial penalties for non-compliance.

These regulations are expected to impact major gas suppliers including the US, Algeria and Russia, with Norway positioned as the leading supplier of pipeline gas in Europe due to its low methane intensity.

The International Energy Agency reported that methane emissions from the energy industry reached a record high of 120 million tonnes in 2023.