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Written question asked by Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 13 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 July 2026. It was answered by Michael Shanks (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Offshore Industry: Methane

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of unsupported flaring, in terms of cost per tonne of CO₂ equivalent abated, compared with other methane abatement measures.

Answer

The term 'unsupported flaring’ is not used by the government. Oil and gas operators are required to deliver zero routine flaring on their assets by 2030 and submit costed Emissions Reduction Action Plans to the North Sea Transition Authority. Flaring activity accounts for approximately 16% of offshore upstream oil and gas greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions from flaring are primarily carbon dioxide.

In its Emissions Monitoring Report 2025, the NSTA estimated that flaring from UK oil and gas production fell by 51% between 2018 and 2024, and that absolute methane emissions from oil and gas production fell by more than 60%.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
18419
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Cost effectiveness Offshore industry Methane
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk