Page 8 - FSUOGM Week 22 2021

FSUOGM COMMENTARY FSUOGM

Russia, US make competing claims

over how clean their gas is

Russia and the US both accuse each other of having dirtier natural gas

RUSSIA RUSSIA and US are once against making com- of the added emissions from liquefaction and
peting claims about whose gas has the worst LNG transport by sea. This is the same reason
environmental impact. for the higher emissions relating to Algerian and
US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm US supplies, which amount to 17.4 grams and
described Russian gas as the “dirtiest” in the 23.8 grams respectively.
world on May 28. She made the remark dur- Gazprom has also described its methane
ing a hearing of the House of Representatives emissions as among the lowest in the industry.
Committee on Science, Space and Technology, Far less methane is emitted into the atmosphere
in which she distanced herself from President than CO2, but it is a much more potent green-
Joe Biden’s position on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 house gas (GHG). Gazprom estimates its meas-
pipeline. Biden recently opted against imposing ured and verified methane emissions at only
sanctions on the pipeline’s operating company, 0.02% for production, 0.29% for transport and
in order to improve relations with Germany, an 0.03% for underground storage.
ardent supporter of the project. Eliminating more of its methane emissions
“One of the reasons why that pipeline is very are a key concern for Gazprom and other gas
dangerous is because it is carrying the dirtiest suppliers to Europe. The European Commission
form of natural gas on Earth with no security is currently working on a proposal to introduce
on methane emissions,” Granholm said. “It’s not legislation to curb methane emissions from the
good for our climate.”-The US is imposing sanc- energy sector. Brussels will likely apply the same
tions on four ships and four companies involved standards to gas imports as gas produced locally.
in building Nord Stream 2, but they are all Rus- The legislation will include compulsory
sian and the measures are unlikely to have any measurement, reporting and verification (MRV)
impact on construction. The pipeline, with a at a company level for all energy sector meth-
capacity of 55bn cubic metres per year, is due to ane emissions. It will also require companies
start up later this year. to improve leak detection and repair (LDAR)
Russia hit back against Granholm's statement, at infrastructure and work towards eliminating
with Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak route venting of methane and flaring.
telling reporters on May 28 that Nord Stream 2’s In its response to the consultation, Gazprom
gas would have a carbon footprint that is four times called for the legislation to align with level four
smaller than that of US-produced gas. and five standards of the Oil and Gas Methane
“There is much hype about environmental Partnership (OGMP), a voluntary initiative to
friendliness of some products. But if we consider reduce methane emissions. Rules are also needed
the issue seriously using objective data then the for other major methane-emitting sectors like
result can be surprising for some observers. livestock and crop production, Gazprom said, as
Russian gas, sent to Europe via the Nord Stream measures to curb emissions in these areas have
gas pipeline, according to various analytical and not been as effective as in the oil and gas industry.
consulting agencies, has a footprint that is four “An objective system of verification and con-
times lower ... than of the gas supplied to Europe trol is needed that ensures equal treatment of all
from the US,” Novak said. “It is mainly linked gas suppliers in a transparent manner,” Gazprom
to the fact that most US-produced gas is made said. “Its sole goal must be to objectively meas-
from shale rocks using hydraulic fracturing, ure and then reduce emissions.”-The company
while Russia pays special attention to ensuring added that “in developing an evidence-based
its environmental leadership and providing our and objective approach to methane emissions,
partners with ecologically clean energy.”-Rus- it will be important to avoid measures that may
sia state gas company Gazprom presented data lead to artificial market distortions with respect
to support these claims in a presentation on to natural gas as an energy source.”-“Imposing
May 18. Its gas supplies to Europe via the Nord quotas or charges on methane emissions that
Stream and TurkStream pipelines have respec- are not supported by objective data can lead to
tive carbon footprints of only 6.3 and 7.8 grams an unjustified increase in the price of gas and an
of CO2 equivalent per MJ of energy, it said. The unjustified restriction on the development of
estimates cover the production, treatment and low-carbon hydrogen from natural gas, the role
pipeline transport of the gas. of which is noted in the EU Hydrogen Strategy,”
Meanwhile, Gazprom estimates LNG sup- it continued. “This effect would run contrary
plies from Qatar to have a carbon footprint of to the EU’s Green Deal objectives and make it
14.2 grams of CO2 equivalent per MJ, because harder to achieve them.” ™

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