Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 on the reduction of methane emissions in the energy sector and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/942.

This Regulation lays down rules for the accurate measurement, quantification, monitoring, reporting and verification of methane emissions in the energy sector in the Union, as well as the reduction of those emissions, including through leak detection and repair surveys, repair obligations and restrictions on venting and flaring. This Regulation also lays down rules on tools ensuring transparency as regards methane emissions.
This Regulation applies to: (i) oil and fossil gas exploration and production, and fossil gas gathering and processing; (ii) inactive wells, temporarily plugged wells and permanently plugged and abandoned wells; (iii) natural gas transmission and distribution, excluding metering systems at final consumption points and the parts of service lines between the distribution network and the metering system located on the property of final customers, as well as underground storage and operations in LNG facilities; and (iv) active underground coal mines and surface coal mines, closed underground coal mines and abandoned underground coal mines. It applies also to methane emissions occurring outside the Union, with respect to crude oil, natural gas and coal placed on the Union market, as referred to in Chapter 5.
This Regulation compels each Member State to designate one or more competent authorities responsible for monitoring and enforcing the application of this Regulation. It lays down rules as regards routine inspections for operators and mine operators and non-routine inspections for operators, undertakings, mine operators and importers; complaint concerning a potential infringement of this Regulation; verification activities to assess the conformity of the emissions reports; quantification of source-level methane emissions in the oil and gas sectors and in active coal mines; mitigation measures to prevent and minimize methane emissions in the operations; leak detection and repair program; restrictions on venting and flaring; faring efficiency requirements; monitoring, reporting and verification measures for crude oil, natural gas or coal produced outside the Union; global methane monitoring tool and rapid reaction mechanism; and penalties for the infringements of this Regulation.
This Regulation adds a new paragraph to Article 15 of Regulation (EU) 2019/942 regarding the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators to issue recommendations on indicators and reference values for unit investment costs for the purposes of complying with the obligations under Article 3 of this Regulation.