US and Qatar urge EU to amend methane regulations, warning of supply risks

The U.S. and Qatar, two major energy exporters, urged the European Union on Wednesday to revise planned methane emission?rules? for oil and gas imports. They warned that the policy could disrupt fuel supply to Europe.

The EU regulation will begin requiring methane monitoring for fuels delivered to the EU in the coming year. The EU regulations aim to reduce leaks of this potent greenhouse gas but they have been met with strong opposition by industry and foreign suppliers.

In a?open letter addressed to EU leaders, energy ministers from the U.S.A, Qatar, Nigeria, and Algeria - all of whom are gas suppliers to Europe - called on the EU to stop the law in its tracks and make "targeted changes".

The letter stated that "Importers are already in the process of purchasing oil and gas to be stored and delivered in 2027 and there is currently no viable way for them to comply with the regulation."

A spokesperson for the European Commission did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

SOME EU COUNTRIES? SEEK DELAY

Before the letter was published by the EU, Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen told reporters that he would be open to discussion on how to ease implementation but not to dilute the policy’s ambition.

"I won't reopen it." "I'm proud of the methane regulations we have," Jorgensen stated.

"We have also been under a lot pressure from companies abroad and countries such as the U.S. and our message to them is the same." We will do our best to be pragmatic but also adhere to the law.

Methane is the second-largest contributor to global warming, after carbon dioxide.

The Commission has proposed plans to waive the?penalties of companies who?breach laws, but it has refused to change the rules.

According to a document obtained by the. EU energy ministers are expected to discuss the request on Friday.

A Wood Mackenzie study, backed by the oil and gas industries, was published in March. It stated that nearly half of EU gas imports would struggle to meet compliance. Rystad, a research firm that released a report this week for the Environmental Defense Fund, said the amount of gas available to meet EU standards was three times more than the current imports. Reporting by Nichola Abnett and Kate Abnett. Mark Potter edited the article.

(source: Reuters)