Cutting down on methane

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and India's largest oil producer have signed an agreement to work together to reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), based in Dehradun, has joined seven other large oil and natural gas companies as a partner in the EPA's Natural Gas STAR International program. The program aims to identify and implement projects in the oil and natural gas sector that cost-effectively reduce methane emissions and deliver more gas to markets around the world.

By joining Natural Gas STAR International, ONGC has agreed to implement technologies and practices to reduce methane emissions where it is deemed cost-effective and submit annual reports detailing the methane emission reductions it achieves. For its part, the EPA will assist ONGC with the analysis of emerging technologies, development of workshops and training courses and assistance with implementation of industry best practices.

Natural Gas STAR International is administered under the EPA’s so-called ‘Methane to Markets’ partnership. The Partnership has 20 partner countries and nearly 600 project network members across the globe.