The Russian Gas Association (RGA), which unites such companies as Gazprom, Rosneft, and LUKOIL, has come up with a proposal to exclude methane from the list of air pollutants emissions of which must be extra paid for.
RGA proposes to limit methane emissions to the environment with greenhouse gas, otherwise there will be double regulation where companies will have to pay double.
The initiative is related to Russia's ratification of Paris climate agreement and accession to international agreements regulating methane emissions, among other things. According to RBC, RGA's initiative is presented in the form of draft amendments to two governmental orders: "On approval of the list of pollutants to which state regulation measures in the field of environmental protection are canceled" and "On payment rates for negative impact on the environment and extra ratios".
After Russia's accession to Paris Climate Convention in September 2019, according to the RGA position, it is practicable that methane management will be regulated according to the same principles as in the whole world. In European countries, quotes are provided for both methane and carbon dioxide emissions in case of exceeding which companies pay fines.
According to the Ministry of economic development, the bill on state regulation of greenhouse gas emissions has been submitted to the government. The bill provides for excluding methane from the list of pollutants and classifying it as a greenhouse gas in order to avoid double regulation.
In the future, RGA intends to discuss its proposals for regulating methane emissions with oil companies, coal suppliers and representatives of other industries.
In the future, RGA intends to discuss its proposals for regulating methane emissions with oil companies, coal suppliers and representatives of other industries.
In the 1980s, methane was included in the list of pollutants. At that time, greenhouse gas emissions were not an international issue and were not regulated by climate laws and agreements. The chief Sanitary Inspector of the USSR approved approximate safe levels of pollutants exposure in the atmospheric air of populated areas.
Source:
https://oilcapital.ru/news/markets/28-02-2020/za-metan-platyat-dvazhdy
