A petroleum engineer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has warned that Ghana's failure to control methane emissions and routine gas flaring could lead to the country being shut out of Europe's gas market. Dr. Kwame Sarkodie stated that evolving methane regulations in international markets, particularly the European Union, are creating new compliance requirements for oil and gas-producing countries. Ghana's competitiveness could suffer if it does not improve how it monitors and reduces emissions.
Dr. Sarkodie made the remarks at a Technical Consultative Workshop organised by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC). The event was held under the theme 'Building a Resilient Gas Economy: Collaborative Strategies to Ensure an Efficient Gas Value Chain.' He argued that eliminating routine gas flaring must be treated as both an environmental and economic priority, not merely a compliance exercise. The EU's methane regulation is being phased in with specific deadlines.
The EU's methane regulation requires importers to show that the oil and gas they bring into Europe comes from jurisdictions with methane monitoring, reporting, and verification standards equivalent to the EU's own requirements. From January 2027, importers will be required to show compliance, and from August 2028, they must report the methane intensity of what they bring in. By August 2030, methane-intensity limits will apply to specified contracts. Ghana currently produces gas from the Jubilee, TEN, and Sankofa fields.
Dr. Sarkodie cited recent PIAC disclosures, stating that Ghana flared about 28.5 million units of gas in a single year, equivalent to roughly 10.4 percent of raw gas produced, at an estimated lost value of about $170 million. This energy could have supported local industry or eased pressure within the power sector. The Petroleum Commission has set a target of eliminating routine gas flaring from Ghana's oil fields by 2026.
A loss of competitiveness in export markets would directly hit state petroleum revenue, which PIAC tracks to ensure it funds national development priorities. Ghana pursues other gas-related ambitions, including a plan to sign a deal for a 1,200MW gas plant by the end of 2026. Gas has become central to Ghana's energy and revenue plans. Routine flaring refers to the ongoing burning off of natural gas produced alongside oil.
Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is a potent greenhouse gas when it escapes unburned into the atmosphere. Regulators increasingly measure both flaring and fugitive leaks together. Dr. Sarkodie urged Ghana to strengthen its emissions monitoring systems and ensure operators comply with measures to prevent flaring and methane leakage. Failure to adapt could affect the country's ability to attract investment and compete in international energy markets.
The sources do not specify what new monitoring systems Ghana's Petroleum Commission or operators at Jubilee, TEN, and Sankofa currently have in place to meet the EU's 2027 deadline. Officials have not given a public timeline for how the 2026 flaring elimination target will be verified. The warning comes as Ghana seeks to capitalize on its gas resources to drive economic growth and development.
Key points
- Ghana risks losing access to the EU gas market due to unchecked methane emissions and routine gas flaring.
- The EU's methane regulation will require importers to show compliance with methane monitoring, reporting, and verification standards by January 2027.
- Ghana aims to eliminate routine gas flaring from its oil fields by 2026, but a timeline for verification has not been made public.
