US Warns EU of LNG Supply Shift Over New Methane Rules

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told Bloomberg on 25 June that the United States could divert its liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports away from the European Union if the EU does not relax its forthcoming methane‑emission monitoring, reporting and verification standards set to take effect in 2027. Wright warned that without a “substantial reform” of the rules, Europe would face “serious losses”, and the United States, together with Qatar, Algeria and Nigeria, is urging a delay or amendment to the regulation.

The EU maintains that the stricter methane standards are essential to curb a potent greenhouse‑gas. EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen rejected the suppliers’ calls, saying the bloc will not compromise its environmental legislation. The dispute comes as the EU, after reducing Russian pipeline gas following the 2022 Ukraine conflict, now depends heavily on U.S. LNG, making the United States the bloc’s largest non‑Russian gas supplier. EU energy ministers are set to discuss the issue at a meeting in Luxembourg on 26 June.