When Combating Global Warming Helps Strengthen Industrial Safety

The new European regulation on reducing methane emissions in the energy sector, which took effect in August 2024, marks a major turning point for GRDF and, more broadly, for all stakeholders in the natural gas industry.

Until now, the monitoring of our infrastructure has been primarily driven by industrial safety considerations, notably through systematic leak detection (SLD). This framework is now shifting toward a prescriptive environmental approach regarding the quantification of methane emissions, Leak Detection and repair, and the restriction of flaring and burning operations.

This regulation applies to the entire gas supply chain, with a requirement to detect, repair (within specified timeframes), and quantify methane leaks, including so-called “fugitive” leaks.

For GRDF, this is the first major environmental regulation of its kind: we are shifting from an obligation of means to an obligation of results, while continuing to fulfill our industrial safety commitments.

• An increase in inspection frequency (from every 4 years to every 3 years for PE and coated steel pipelines, in particular), which intensifies the inspection program through the use of additional resources;
• Tighter deadlines for leak repairs;
• The development of appropriate quantification technologies;
• Significant investments over the ATRD 7 period totaling tens of millions of euros in both OPEX and CAPEX, including monitoring, reporting, detection, repair, controlled flaring, and alternative operations.

Methane is a highly effective short-term lever for Decarbonization, given its share in GRDF’s Carbon Assessment. This new regulation also allows GRDF to revitalize its core businesses and its on-the-ground expertise. 

In fact, our current tools already meet safety requirements. They must now demonstrate their environmental effectiveness.
The next step involves the precise quantification and reconciliation of emissions. Furthermore, trials are underway with a view to scaling up operations.

This development is fully aligned with our goal of halving our environmental impact while strengthening our role in the Energy Transition. 
It complements the measures we are taking to reduce our emissions, such as shortening gas flow shutdown times, preventing damage to infrastructure, replacing our fleet of regulators, and systematically lowering Network Operations pressure.