EU Considers Delaying Methane Emissions Rules for Oil and Gas Imports

The European Commission is considering postponing the EU's methane emissions rules for oil and gas imports. The law, set to take effect in January 2027, requires foreign oil and gas producers that supply the EU to monitor and report their methane emissions.

Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to 20 percent of their annual turnover. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and the second-biggest cause of climate change behind carbon dioxide (CO2).

The law was due to impose a methane emissions limit on oil and gas imports from 2030, but some EU members are seeking a delay or suspension over concerns they could squeeze already tight fuel supplies.