EU Considers Methane Rule Delay to Protect Winter Gas Supplies

The regulation, scheduled for January, mandates that foreign energy suppliers track, measure, and verify methane emissions across their entire supply chains. While EU energy firms have faced similar requirements since 2024, foreign producers argue the rules are operationally impossible to meet. Valentina Kretzschmar, a carbon expert at Wood Mackenzie, notes that the EU currently lacks the necessary accreditation agencies to verify emissions data from international production sites, leaving importers facing significant legal and commercial risks.

Major suppliers have already voiced strong opposition, with Qatar threatening to halt shipments and U.S. officials warning of damage to bilateral trade. With European gas prices currently hovering above 70 euro per MWh, policymakers are wary of policies that could drive global cargoes toward Asian buyers. Brussels is now debating whether to suspend penalties for non-compliance, though exporters remain resistant to the reporting obligations themselves. Without a clear mechanism for data verification, the EU faces a difficult choice between its climate goals and the immediate necessity of maintaining energy security during the coldest months of the year.