Methane rules: Parliament backs longer delay for energy importers and producers
MEPs voted on Thursday to delay methane monitoring and reporting rules for oil, gas and coal importers by three years – two more than proposed by the Commission.
Parliament adopted its position on the Commission’s proposal to postpone certain obligations under the EU Methane Regulation by 341 votes in favour, 225 against and 6 abstentions.
More time for importers and producers
The Commission proposed postponing by one year certain importer obligations, due to apply from 1 January 2027, and methane intensity reporting, due by August 2028. Importers have warned they may not be able to secure enough compliant supplies at a time when energy markets are strained and prices high due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Parliament agrees with the need to postpone these requirements, but is pushing for a longer, three-year postponement. Under Parliament’s proposal, importers of crude oil, natural gas and coal would have until 31 May 2031, to show that supply contracts concluded or renewed since 4 August 2024 cover only fuel subject to monitoring, reporting and verification measures equivalent to EU rules. The same new date would apply when importers report on their efforts to bring older contracts into line.
In addition, EU producers and importers would first report the methane intensity of the fossil fuels they place on the EU market by 5 August 2031, not 5 August 2029.
MEPs also want to give EU oil and gas operators three more years to submit verified reports combining source-level and site-level methane measurements – to February 2030 for operated assets, and August 2031 for non-operated assets.
No additional time for sanctioned countries
MEPs agree that the extended timeline should not benefit energy imports from countries the EU has sanctioned. The existing schedule should continue to apply to oil, gas and coal originating in, or exported directly or indirectly from, countries that are subject to EU sanctions that prohibit or restrict imports of these substances. To prevent circumvention, importers would have to report these volumes separately, including those in mixed cargoes. The Commission would publish and update an indicative list of the countries concerned.
Review of implementation and security of supply
MEPs want the Commission to report by 1 July 2029 on how importer and methane intensity provisions are being implemented. The report would cover national penalty regimes, the accreditation of verifiers, recognition of compliance solutions, progress on developing the methane intensity methodology and maximum values, and the security of supply situation. Where needed, the Commission should propose changes to the regulation if implementation problems continue or security of supply is threatened.
Next steps
Parliament is now ready to start negotiations with the Council on the final shape of the law.
For the new deadlines to bring legal certainty quickly, Parliament dealt with this file under its urgent procedure, and it wants the amending regulation to enter into force the day after it is published in the Official Journal.
Background
The regulation on reducing methane emissions in the energy sector entered into force on 4 August 2024. It sets rules for measuring, reporting and verifying methane emissions, for finding and repairing leaks, and for limiting venting and flaring and it is the world’s first comprehensive legislation that also regulates methane emissions related to imports of oil, gas and coal.
