European Union: Regulating methane emissions from fossil fuels
The European Union has reached a legal agreement to monitor and control methane emissions from the oil, gas and coal industries, in a move that could affect importers of fossil fuels. The European Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional political agreement on regulations to monitor and reduce methane emissions from the energy sector.
The regulation introduces new requirements for methane emissions, giving the oil, gas, and coal industries a legal basis for measurement, reporting, and verification. The rules also require energy companies to take measures to eliminate methane emissions, including detecting whether methane leaks and, if so, fixing them; Limit methane emission combustion. The regulation also refers to global monitoring tools to ensure transparency of methane emissions from imported oil, gas and coal in the EU.
The statement noted that the regulations relating to fossil fuel imports will be divided into three implementation phases. The first phase will focus on data collection and "creating a global monitoring tool for methane emitters and a rapid response mechanism for super emitters." In the second and third phases, enterprises exporting to the EU should adopt "equivalent monitoring, reporting and verification measures" by January 1, 2027, and maximize methane intensity values by 2030. If these rules are not complied with, EU member states can impose administrative penalties.
The interim agreement is now in the final stages of approval, and these requirements will become mandatory when the law takes effect. In December 2021, the European Commission presented a proposal for methane emission reduction regulations in the energy sector as the second part of the legislative package "55% Reduction" (i.e. the EU's commitment to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030), with the goal of achieving EU climate neutrality by 2050. 
For potential sources of methane emissions in the EU, operators must submit quantified reports of methane emissions within 18 months of the regulation coming into force, direct measurements of methane emissions within 24 months, site-level measurements within 36 months and direct measurements of non-operational assets within 48 months. The regulation also requires operators to file these reports by May 31 each year, according to the statement.
Mine operators must submit reports to the competent authorities within 12 months containing annual source-level methane emissions data from operating mines and monitoring of blocked and abandoned mines, the statement said. Eu Member States should regularly update the list of all Wells. Mines that have been permanently blocked and abandoned for less than 30 years should provide proof of no methane emissions, while mines that have been closed or abandoned for less than 70 years are treated in accordance with this regulation, except for mines that have been completely flooded for more than 10 years.
The interim agreement also emphasizes the importance of methane leakage regulations, stipulating that the Commission must specify minimum detection limits through an implementation bill within 12 months of the law's entry into force. After a leak is discovered, parts should be repaired or replaced immediately, or as soon as possible within five to 30 days for the first time, the statement said.
WhatsApp Scan for more latest news 
