Methane Import Rule Delay
EU Considers Delaying Methane Import Rules to Ease Energy Supply Pressures
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The European Union is considering a temporary delay to methane monitoring and reporting requirements for oil and gas imports, with Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen emphasizing that the rules’ environmental goals would not be weakened. The requirements are intended to make foreign suppliers track and report methane emissions associated with fuels sold in the bloc; a delay of about a year is under consideration, though the Commission has not detailed a final timetable. The move follows pressure from some EU governments and suppliers concerned that compliance burdens could deter fuel deliveries and add to price and supply strains. Germany’s environment ministry has played down the significance of the proposed change.
Key Points
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The import rules are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, and would require foreign oil and gas producers supplying the EU to monitor and report methane emissions.
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The proposed delay is linked to concerns that penalties for non-compliance could discourage suppliers from delivering fuel amid disrupted supplies and high energy prices; French President Emmanuel Macron called for a one-year postponement, and roughly a dozen EU countries and the United States had earlier sought a pause or rollback.
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The Commission told the Irish Farmers Journal it plans to propose postponing the regulation’s entry into force, but said technical work was ongoing and it had no further details to share.
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The requirements cover reporting methane intensity and include tracking methane vented during fuel production. The article notes that suppliers have complained overseas supply chains may not be able to produce compliant data on the legislated timetable.
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At the same EU ministers’ meeting, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said member states may discuss releasing additional strategic oil reserves, with the agency monitoring markets, particularly diesel and other refined products.
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