The New EU Methane Regulation – An Overview of Deadlines, Requirements, and Inspections

Welcome to our expert blog! Today, we want to introduce you to the timeline of the new EU Methane Regulation, which is of great importance to all operators in the gas industry. This regulation aims to significantly reduce methane emissions and strengthen environmental protection. In this article, we will explain the key changes and requirements you need to be aware of.

Important Deadlines

To provide you with a clear overview, here are the key deadlines and milestones of the new Methane Regulation:

• 04. Aug. 2024: EU Methane Regulation comes into force
• Feb. 2025: Appointment of responsible authorities (6 months after enforcement)‍
• May 2025: Submission of an LDAR program (9 months after enforcement)‍
• Aug. 2025: LDAR Type 2 measurement of all components and quantification with general emission factors (12 months after enforcement)‍
• Feb. 2026: Source-level quantification of methane emissions & ban on routine flaring and venting (18 months after enforcement)‍
• May 2026: Routine and non-routine inspections (21 months after enforcement)‍
• Feb. 2027: Source-level quantification of methane emissions, site-level emissions, and reconciliation of results (30 months after enforcement)

Operational Requirements for Gas Operators

The regulation introduces a series of measures and requirements that gas infrastructure operators must implement:

Submission of an LDAR Program (May 2025)

Operators are required to submit an LDAR program within 9 months of the regulation's enforcement (Article 14, Paragraph 1).

LDAR Type 2 Measurement of All Components (Aug. 2025)

Operators must begin the first LDAR Type 2 survey of all components within their jurisdiction following the regulation's enforcement. This survey must be completed by July 2025 (Article 14, Paragraph 2).

Ban on Routine Flaring & Venting (Feb. 2026)

Routine flaring and venting of methane emissions are prohibited starting January 2026 (Article 15, Paragraph 8).

Reporting and Monitoring

A key component of the new regulation is the reporting and monitoring of methane emissions:

Quantification of General Methane Emissions (Aug. 2025)

Operators must submit a report by July 2025 on the estimated source-level methane emissions using generic emission factors (Article 12, Paragraph 1). A generic emission factor refers to a standardized emission factor per emission source, based on inventories or databases, but not verified through direct measurements.

Quantification of Source-Level Methane Emissions (Feb.. 2026)

By January 2026, operators must quantify methane emissions at the source and submit corresponding reports (Article 12, Paragraph 2). This includes measuring methane emissions at the source using a method that enables such measurements.

Quantification of Source-Level Methane Emissions, Site-Level Emissions, and Reconciliation of Results (Feb. 2027)

By January 2027, operators must submit reports on site-level methane emissions and reconcile these with the aggregated measurements of source-level methane emissions (Article 12, Paragraph 3).

Inspections by Authorities

Operators will be subject to both routine and non-routine inspections by the responsible authorities. During these inspections, authorities will visit sites, review documents and records to ensure compliance with the regulations. They will also verify the measurement methods and methane emissions, and carry out other necessary actions to monitor and promote adherence to the regulation.

Routine and Non-Routine Inspections (May 2026)

The first routine inspection will be completed by April 2026. Subsequently, the responsible authorities will develop programs for routine inspections based on a risk assessment (Article 6, Paragraph 3).

Additionally, non-routine inspections will be conducted to ensure that leak repairs and component replacements are carried out according to regulations and that emission reduction measures are implemented (Article 6, Paragraph 4b).

Conclusion

The new EU Methane Regulation introduces numerous changes and requirements for the gas industry. It is crucial for operators to take early action to meet the deadlines and comply with the new regulations. We are available to provide further information and support.