Ghana could lose European gas markets without action on methane emissions – Expert
Ghana could risk access to European gas export markets if it does not strengthen measures to control methane emissions and eliminate routine gas flaring, Dr Kwame Sarkodie, a petroleum engineering expert, has cautioned. He said evolving methane regulations in international markets, particularly the European Union, were creating new requirements for oil and gas-producing countries and […]
Ghana may face challenges in accessing European gas export markets unless it takes action to control methane emissions and stop routine gas flaring, warns Dr Kwame Sarkodie, a petroleum engineering expert. Dr Sarkodie, from the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), spoke at a workshop organized by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC).
He emphasized that Ghana must prioritize the elimination of routine gas flaring, viewing it as both an environmental and economic imperative. Failure to enforce zero routine flaring could result in losing European market access and facing higher costs from international investors, he cautioned. The European Union is rolling out stricter methane regulations, with requirements becoming progressively stronger for methane monitoring, reporting, and verification.
These regulations also introduce methane-intensity requirements for certain import contracts from 2030. Ghana is currently losing significant economic value due to gas flaring, with approximately 28.5 million units of gas - about 10.4% of total production - flared in a single year, valued at around $170 million, according to PIAC's data.
Dr Sarkodie noted that Ghana aims to eliminate routine gas flaring by 2026, highlighting that ending routine flaring is not just environmentally necessary but also economically essential. The Petroleum Commission has set this target, and Dr Sarkodie stressed that methane is gaining importance in international oil and gas markets due to its high global-warming potential and increasing regulatory demands.
Under upcoming EU rules, international buyers will require credible methane intensity data, with importers needing to demonstrate compliance by January 2027. By August 2028, methane intensity reporting will be mandatory, and limits will apply to specific contracts from August 2030. Dr Sarkodie urged Ghana to enhance its emissions monitoring systems and ensure strict compliance to avoid losing competitiveness in international energy markets due to non-compliance with evolving regulations.
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