The European Commission is considering giving fossil fuel companies leeway to avoid penalties under new rules governing the emissions of methane, in what would be a major win for the oil and gas sector.
According to draft guidelines for governments, seen by POLITICO, national authorities would be able to grant exemptions to companies on energy security grounds, without any clear time limit or explicit oversight from the commission.
The EU’s flagship methane regulation, set to come into effect gradually over the next few years, imposes tough penalties on fossil fuel companies that don’t monitor and limit emissions of methane — a potent greenhouse gas that is a major cause of global warming.
But in response to fierce opposition from industry, member countries and the U.S. government, the commission is now floating a more relaxed approach to enforcement of the rules.
