European Union countries voted in December in favour of weakening the bloc’s planned law to cut methane emissions in the oil and gas sector, weeks after the EU pledged at COP27 to do more to tackle the potent greenhouse gas. The European Commission last year proposed legislation requiring oil and gas companies in Europe to find and fix methane leaks in their infrastructure. The law will be negotiated this year by EU countries. For example instead of quarterly checks, amendments include checks for compressor stations and liquefied natural gas terminals would be surveyed every six months, valve stations every 12 months and transmission pipelines every two years. The EU law would not apply to infrastructure abroad that transports gas into Europe. The EU imports more than 80 per cent of its gas, and most methane emissions associated with that consumption occur abroad. The EU law would not apply to infrastructure abroad that transports gas into Europe. The EU imports more than 80 per cent of its gas, and most methane emissions associated with that consumption occur abroad. Countries agreed, however, to assess after the law takes effect if it should be extended to imports Germany. In November last year, the government of Nigeria finalized its Methane Guidelines to reduce emissions from its oil and gas industry, making it the first country in Africa to enact regulations to curb methane in the energy sector. In 2021, Nigeria included a specific methane target for the oil and gas industry in the 2021 update of its Nationally Determined Contribution calling for a 61% reduction in methane emissions in the oil and gas sector.
