Page 14 - AsianOil Week 09 2023

AsianOil ENERGY TRANSITION AsianOil

Australian methane emissions higher

than reported, IEA data shows

AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIAN gas production and coal mines in 2022, agreeing to cut methane emissions by
are emitting much greater amounts of methane 30% by 2030. The IEA report has added fuel to
2.33mn tonnes of that what has been reported by the government, the debate in Australia about government efforts
methane was emitted according the latest data issued by the Interna- to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and
from energy production tional Energy Agency (IEA) in its annual Global keeping better track of the activities of energy
in the country last year. Methane Tracker. companies. The Greens have called for an end
Using satellite and ground data, the Par- to the opening of new coal mines and no new oil
is-based IEA determined that 2.23mn tonnes of and gas projects.
methane was released from energy production Methane is reported to be 80 times more
in Australia during 2022, more than 60% above damaging to the atmosphere than carbon diox-
the 1.37mn tonnes reported by the country’s ide. The IEA report said methane emissions from
Federal Climate Change Department. oil and gas alone could be reduced by 75% with
The IEA report said the global energy indus- existing technologies. It said this shows a lack
try released 135mn tonnes of methane into the of industry action on an issue that is often very
atmosphere in 2020. It said that despite the fact cheap to address. “Less than 3% of the income
that Australia has only 0.33% of the world’s pop- accrued by oil and gas companies worldwide
ulation, it is responsible for 1.6% of global meth- last year would be required to make the $100bn
ane emissions. investment in technologies needed to achieve
Most of Australia’s methane emissions are this reduction,” the IEA said.
from cattle and sheep, but coal mining and oil It said stopping all non-emergency flaring
and gas production run a close second place. A and venting of methane is the most impactful
statement released by the Australian Conserva- measure countries can take to rein in emissions.
tion Foundation about the IEA acknowledged Around 260bn cubic metres of methane is cur-
that emissions from open-cast coal mining rently lost to the atmosphere each year from
would continue to be a problem for many years, oil and gas operations, according to the IEA.
even after mining stops. Three-quarters of this could be retained and
“There are strong indications companies brought to market using tried and tested policies
are underreporting methane emissions, often and technologies. The captured methane would
relying on estimates rather than direct measure- amount to more than the European Union’s total
ment,” the Foundation said in a statement. annual gas imports from Russia prior to the inva-
Australia joined the Global Methane Pledge sion of Ukraine. ™

P14 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 09 03•March•2023