On Wednesday 26 April, MEPs will vote on the draft compromise on the regulation to reduce methane emissions in the energy sector, tabled by rapporteurs Jutta Paulus (Greens/EFA, German) and Silvia Sardone (ID, Italian) in a joint meeting of the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and Environment (ENVI) Committees.
MEPs managed to negotiate an interim report on methane emissions from leakages in the energy sector and call on the European Commission to set targets for all relevant sectors by 2025, which it had not done in its proposal of 15 December 2021 (see EUROPE 12854/12).
The Parliament welcomed the Commission’s proposals on the whole energy sector (oil, gas, coal), but wanted in particular to extend the rules to the petrochemical sector. “It uses essentially the same assets, tools and technologies as the oil and gas sector to work with the oil and gas it uses as feedstock. That is why it is important to include this sector in the legislation”, explained Jutta Paulus.
MEPs wanted to go further than the Commission’s proposal by introducing a ban on venting (the release of burnt methane into the atmosphere), except in the event of emergency measures, and a stronger limitation on flaring (the controlled combustion of methane for disposal), requiring at least 99% flaring efficiency.
The Parliament also emphasises strict rules on leak detection and repair and on imports. This means that all companies importing oil and gas into the EU will be subject to the same rules.
“They have to prove that they are doing the same in terms of monitoring, control and verification of their emissions”, insisted Jutta Paulus.
On methane emissions from the coal mining sector, MEPs agreed on a limit of 5 tonnes of methane emissions per kilotonne of coal production by 2027 and 3 tonnes by 2031, but wanted to ensure that the Commission produces a delegated act analysing the situation in 2027.
Jutta Paulus acknowledged that discussions have not been easy over the past months, especially with the political group ID, which is the only one not to support the report: “The negotiations have been difficult in the Parliament, but I know that the real difficulty will be in the negotiations with the EU Council”.
The EU Council had indeed already adopted its position on 15 December 2022 and was criticised by the Parliament and the Commission for its lack of ambition (see EUROPE 13088/4).
If the MEPs’ compromise proposal is adopted in committee, it will then have to be adopted in the European Parliament plenary session in May.
To see the compromise amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/6jh (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)