Major loopholes for coal mines in EU methane regulation

Ember analyzes loopholes in the EU methane regulation that could lead to an additional 2.2 million tonnes of methane emissions by 2050. The report highlights that coal mines are the largest energy sector methane source in the EU, dominated by Polish operations, and argues that tightening venting thresholds and prioritizing the closure of high-methane mines are cost-effective ways to meet climate goals.

• The latest revisions to the EU methane regulation are projected to reduce coal mine methane (CMM) emissions by only 47%, failing to meet the stated climate goal of a 58% reduction. This gap could result in an extra 2.2 million tonnes of methane emissions by 2050, which is equivalent to 180 million tonnes of CO2-e using a 20-year global warming potential.
• Coal mines are the primary source of energy sector methane emissions in the EU. In 2020, they emitted 943 thousand tonnes of methane, which is more than the combined emissions from the bloc's oil and gas sectors.
• Poland is the EU's largest CMM emitter, accounting for 61% of Europe's CMM in 2020 with 576 thousand tonnes. The IEA suggests these figures may be underreported, estimating 2022 emissions at 715 thousand tonnes, which is 24% higher than Poland's 2020 UNFCCC report.
• A significant loophole exists regarding coking coal used in steelmaking, as the regulation lacks a venting threshold and has delayed the timeline to define one from 3 to 5 years. Implementing a maximum venting threshold of 5 tonnes of methane per kilotonne of coal could prevent 3 million tonnes of methane by 2050.
• Seven high-methane thermal coal mines in Poland produced only 40% of the country's thermal hard coal output but emitted all of its reported methane for that category (232 thousand tonnes). Replacing production from these mines with Poland's "low-methane" coal reserves could reduce annual EU CMM emissions by 25%.
• Abandoned and closed underground mines in the EU emitted 258 thousand tonnes of methane in 2020. Romania is the second largest CMM emitter in the EU; capturing just half of its abandoned mine methane (AMM) emissions could generate 0.5 TWh of electricity, valued at 75 million euros.

APA

Campbell, C. (2023). Major loopholes for coal mines in EU methane regulation. Ember. https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/major-loopholes-for-coal-mines-in-eu-methane-regulation

Chicago

Campbell, Conal. Major loopholes for coal mines in EU methane regulation. Ember, 2023. https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/major-loopholes-for-coal-mines-in-eu-methane-regulation.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Campbell |first1=Conal |title=Major loopholes for coal mines in EU methane regulation |publisher=Ember |date=2 March 2023 |url=https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/major-loopholes-for-coal-mines-in-eu-methane-regulation |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{campbell2023major, author = {Campbell, Conal}, title = {{Major loopholes for coal mines in EU methane regulation}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/major-loopholes-for-coal-mines-in-eu-methane-regulation}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }