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The EPA is likely to emphasise detection and repair of leaks in older equipment (Photo: Twitter/@Pemex)

Pemex agrees to work with EPA to draw

up plan for reducing methane emissions

MEXICO’S national oil company (NOC) leaks, which tend to become more common as
Pemex said on November 12 that it had agreed equipment and infrastructure ages.)
to work with the US Environmental Protection Following the publication of the jointly
Agency (EPA) to reduce emissions of methane developed plan, Pemex will begin implement-
and other greenhouse gases (GHGs). ing its new methane emissions reduction policy.
In a statement, Pemex explained that the EPA The first stage of implementation will focus on
would be providing it with technical support for mitigation operations at the NOC’s onshore oil
the development of a plan for the reduction of and gas facilities, and it will include efforts to cut
harmful emissions. “With this co-operation, routine venting and flaring, as well as emergency
[the company] will be able to receive recom- or unexpected methane release.
mendations from the EPA on options to mitigate The company did not say when it expected
these sources,” it said. to extend the programme to cover its offshore
The NOC aims to finalise and publish its plan oil and gas facilities.
by June 30, 2023, the statement added. The EPA expressed optimism about the
The EPA’s role in the project will focus on potential of this joint effort to help Mexico
identifying major sources of GHG emissions reduce methane emissions. “Implementing
and on recommending options for reduction these studies and measures will reduce potent
and mitigation of emissions. With respect to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions to achieve
identification, the agency will help Pemex iden- near-term climate benefits, significantly
tify the main sources of methane emissions improve air quality and public health, conserve
within its systems, including specific hotspots natural gas that would otherwise be wasted,
and operational sources, as well as infrastruc- improve operational efficiency, and reduce
ture- and equipment-related sources. operation and maintenance costs,” it said in a
As for recommendations, the agency will separate statement.
draw up a list of options for reducing GHG Pemex unveiled the agreement with the EPA
emissions and mitigating their impact. Among as Mexico’s government came under pressure to
the options that will be considered are the elim- reduce GHG emissions during the COP27 inter-
ination of routine venting through equipment national climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh,
replacement and operational changes and the Egypt. Its statement comes in the wake of news
maximisation of opportunities for flare capture reports revealing that the NOC violated Mexi-
and flare efficiency. (The statement also indi- can law by failing to report extensive methane
cated that the EPA was likely to emphasise the leaks at the Ku-Maloob-Zaap offshore oilfield in
importance of regular detection and repair of December 2021. ™

P6 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 46 16•November•2022