For US companies, the stakes are high. American producers now supply 60% of Europe’s LNG, a share that is likely to grow as the EU clamps down on Russian gas imports. up from almost none in 2016, when US LNG exports first began. The trade expanded steadily in the following years and surged after the EU in 2022 introduced an anti-Russian fossil fuel strategy, and is expected to grow further.
BP, ExxonMobil, Repsol and EQT are among suppliers that have turned to a little-known UK organization to demonstrate that their US-produced natural meets the European Union’s new law. London-based MiQ says its certification framework is designed to align with the regulation. The company claims to certify roughly a quarter of U.S. natural gas production and about 7 per cent globally.
But an international investigation combining on-the-ground reporting with analysis of the certification methodology and satellite data suggests that the program may be significantly underestimating the methane footprint of the facilities it certifies.
The findings raise questions about whether third-party certification schemes can credibly demonstrate exporters’ compliance with the bloc’s new methane rules, an approach championed by the gas industry and now under consideration by the European Commission.
Key findings:
- Satellite observations and independent data indicate that some facilities awarded high MiQ ratings might release significantly higher levels of methane than the certification suggests.
- The certification framework relies heavily on company-reported data and no direct measurements, potentially missing intermittent but large methane leaks.
- MiQ-hired lobbyists pitched the scheme directly to EU lawmakers and held meetings with officials responsible for developing rules for imported fuels.
