Alberta’s Environment Minister Unconcerned about Potential Methane Tariffs

Alberta’s environment minister expressed little concern that European countries are taking steps toward tariffs on imported natural gas associated with high methane emissions as she promoted the province’s role as an energy ally in Washington.

Rebecca Schulz says there have only been a few conversations about the emerging exporting issue as she visited the United States capital this week.

European Union countries approved a law earlier this year to impose methane emissions limits on oil and gas imports from 2030.

Importers that don’t meet the limit could face a financial penalty.

Other jurisdictions, including the U.S., are also moving toward stringent methane targets that could impact the Alberta market in the future.

Ms. Schulz says Alberta has worked with producers to reduce emissions by 45 percent and says they reached that target three years ahead of schedule.

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The way Alberta measures methane emission reduction has faced scrutiny, but Ms. Schulz says she’s confident in the methodology.