The Austrian gas industry accounts for only about 0.3% of total domestic greenhouse gas emissions. Methane emissions from the production, storage, and distribution of gas amounted to 8.04 kilotonnes of methane in 2022. By comparison, over 70% of Austrian methane emissions come from agriculture and around 15 to 18% from waste management. The contribution of the gas industry is therefore extremely low compared to other methane-relevant sectors.
As a transmission system operator (TSO), our share is even lower: Gas Connect Austria accounted for approximately 0.23% of total Austrian methane emissions in 2022. The leakage rate of our facilities in 2024 was only 0.009% of the transported natural gas volume, placing it at a very low level by European standards. Since 2010, investments totaling several million euros have been made specifically in measures to prevent and reduce methane emissions.
These results are based on long-term investments in modern infrastructure and clearly regulated technical standards. Among others, modern gas detection and laser measurement methods, fiber-sensing systems, as well as inspection and maintenance programs are deployed. These monitor the proper condition of the facilities and ensure recurring checks for any potential leaks. As a result, even the smallest leakages can be detected and rectified at an early stage.
A central framework for the management of methane emissions is the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0), which is explicitly recognized by the EU as the international standard for high-quality measurement, reporting, verification, and emission reduction. OGMP is a voluntary industry initiative initiated by the United Nations, targeting measurement-based emission data and mitigation measures along the entire gas infrastructure. Gas Connect Austria has been a member since 2020 and has since reported according to the OGMP Gold Standard, the highest level of this framework, which sets the highest requirements for transparency, data quality, and comparability.
The overarching goal of the EU Methane Regulation is to reduce methane emissions. To effectively meet this goal, however, it is crucial to prescribe different requirements for the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. Transmission and distribution networks differ fundamentally from upstream gas production: they are regulated, generate very low emissions, and have long been subject to stringent inspection and safety standards. Uniform requirements without differentiation can therefore generate high costs and effort without necessarily bringing additional climate-relevant benefits.
Experience in operating gas infrastructure shows that high technical standards, such as those applied within the framework of OGMP, already lead to very low methane emissions. In the design and specific implementation of additional regulatory requirements in Austria, a proportionate and cost-conscious approach should be taken so that the measures do not cause further increases in network costs, as the contribution to emission reduction is very low given that Austrian grid operators are already at the Gold Standard. In this way, climate protection goals could be achieved without creating unnecessary additional burdens for regulated infrastructure operators and, ultimately, for end consumers.