BRUSSELS, Oct 22 (Reuters) – The European Parliament voted on Thursday to approve a three-year delay to the EU’s methane emissions rules for oil and gas imports, marking a longer-than-expected delay after pressure from governments including France and the United States.
Up until a few weeks ago, the EU was set for a one-year delay, but lobbying had intensified to push for a three-year delay, including from the Czech Republic and Italy.
The rules, originally due to take effect on January 1, 2027, would have required foreign oil and gas suppliers to the EU to monitor and report methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
The United States, Europe’s biggest liquefied natural gas supplier, had already warned the EU in June that the methane law could disrupt fuel deliveries, a stance backed by companies including oil major ExxonMobil.
“Under Parliament’s proposal, importers of crude oil, natural gas and coal would have until May 31, 2031, to show that supply contracts concluded or renewed since August 4, 2024 cover only fuel subject to monitoring, reporting and verification measures equivalent to EU rules,” lawmakers said in a statement.
Methane is the second-largest contributor to climate change, after carbon dioxide.
Following this vote, lawmakers will now have to thrash out a final decision on the deadline with EU governments.
(Reporting by Jan Strupczewski and Sudip Kar-Gupta;Editing by Foo Yun Chee and Nina Chestney)
