In a new report assessing the EU’s new methane regulation to reduce methane emissions from the energy sector, of which coal mining is the main source (see EUROPE 13417/16), the climate policy think-tank Ember on Wednesday 10 July highlighted a positive first step, but acknowledged that major shortcomings remain.
The report indicates that, with the new rules, 48% of methane emissions from coal mines will be reduced, short of the 58% required, due in particular to the absence of regulations concerning coking coal mines.
What’s more, none of the EU’s ten largest coal suppliers currently complies with the methane measurements required by the regulation.
In order to address the shortcomings, Ember suggests that the EU should improve practices for monitoring, reporting and verifying methane emissions, establish common guidelines and a standard for penalties in the event of infringement, and also set an ambitious methane emission threshold for coking coal mines.
These measures would be “a strong financial driver to change this attitude globally and incentivise coal mining companies around the world to start prioritising investing in mitigation technologies”, says Ember.
The think tank points out that, in addition to capturing and using drained gas, underground coal mines can use Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer technology to destroy the majority of their methane emissions.
To see the report: https://aeur.eu/f/czo (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)