EU Methane Regulation Emerges As Strategic Tool For Energy Security

Brussels – Environmental Defense Fund Europe today released a new analysis by Rystad Energy,  showing that the EU Methane Regulation is a strategic tool to strengthen Europe's energy security and  accelerate its shift away from Russian fossil fuels. The findings show that the regulation is not just  compatible with energy security – it helps deliver a more secure and independent energy system by making  Europe’s energy landscape more transparent, resilient and aligned with climate goals. 

According to Rystad Energy, global LNG supply is set to grow by roughly 4% per year, creating an oversupply from 2028 to 2032. This gives the EU the freedom to demand greater transparency and  environmental performance from suppliers without jeopardizing access to gas. 

Compliance with the EU Methane Regulation is well within reach. By 2027, supply capable of meeting  OGMP2.0 Level 5 standards – the highest global standard for methane reporting – is expected to be  double the EU’s gas demand, enabling robust monitoring and verification without tightening the market.  For oil, sufficient amounts of compliant crude will be available to meet EU refinery needs, and diverse  sourcing options mean Europe is not reliant on any single exporter. 

At the same time, EU importers are continuing to sign long-term LNG contracts, confirming industry  confidence in meeting demand while complying with the regulation. Europe’s expanded regasification  capacity and reduced dependence on Russian imports have made the system far more resilient. 

“The EU Methane Regulation gives Europe the leverage to secure its energy future – cutting methane,  strengthening resilience and reducing dependence on risky suppliers,” said Léa Pilsner, Policy Director  at Environmental Defense Fund Europe. “Transparency is power. While implementation challenges  exist, they reflect the normal industry adaptation process.” 

Tim Bjerkelund, Partner Advisory, Rystad Energy, added: “The EU Methane Regulation has the potential  to positively influence upstream methane emission abatement by incentivizing operators to introduce  company-wide methane policies. Our analysis shows that there is adequate OGMP Level 5 supply and ways to bring this to EU buyers, enabling implementation of the regulation.” 

MEP Thomas Pellerin-Carlin comments: “Rystad’s findings show just how far the world has shifted since  Russia started to weaponize Europe’s energy needs. Through energy efficiency and renewables, Europe  keeps on reducing structurally its gas demand. And as compliant LNG is available, the EU can lock in methane  transparency while reducing its dependence on fossil-fuel autocracies.”

As Europe reviews its energy supply security framework, the study provides compelling evidence that the  EU Methane Regulation enhances resilience and reduces dependence on risky suppliers that fail to follow industry best practices. Far from being a risk, the regulation positions the EU to set global standards  without compromising supply. In this context, the regulation directly supports the REPowerEU energy strategy, enacted to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels following the invasion of Ukraine. It calls for diversification of supplies, increased affordability and transitioning away from fossil fuel dependency.  

Implementation challenges are expected – such as tracking emissions across supply chains and verifying  data – but these reflect the normal complexity of introducing transparency requirements and do not  undermine supply security. Many companies have already committed to best practices under OGMP, which  positions the industry well to meet the regulation’s requirements. 

The EU Methane Regulation is a cornerstone of Europe’s future-ready energy strategy: making the system  more transparent, resilient and climate-aligned while safeguarding supply security.