Suspending Methane Regulation is just burning money

Today, MEPs will debate the one-year suspension of the EU Methane Regulation announced by European Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The delay will neither replenish gas storage facilities nor reduce consumers’ heating bills. The new legislation would require companies importing oil, gas and coal to measure, report and address methane leaks, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Jutta Paulus, Greens/EFA MEP and European Parliament lead negotiator on the Methane Regulation for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and rapporteur for the regulation in the Environment Committee, comments:

“Anyone who allows gas to escape or be flared in the midst of an energy price crisis is burning money. It’s absurd and incomprehensible to postpone the implementation of the Methane Regulation by a year. Suspending it will neither bring additional gas into the EU nor reduce heating costs. Consistent implementation would bring onto the market gas that is currently being lost through leaks, flaring or venting, thereby increasing supply.

“The European Commission must not bow to pressure from the oil and gas industry. With the announcement of the delay, the fossil fuel lobby has smelt blood and is already making further demands. Suspending the Methane Regulation now puts Europe’s climate targets at risk and opens the door to further weakening of the rules.”