Methane Certification Under Fire as Leaks Found at MiQ-Rated Sites
A Guardian investigation has uncovered that gas production facilities certified under the MiQ methane programme, operated by a UK nonprofit, may be significantly underreporting emissions. Field observations at MiQ-certified sites in the Permian Basin, the largest oil and gas field in the United States, revealed visible methane leaks and malfunctioning flaring equipment, challenging the reliability of this voluntary certification model used by major companies like BP, ExxonMobil, and EQT to comply with European Union regulations.
Investigative Findings in the Permian Basin
In July 2025, the investigative group Gas Outlook, alongside environmental monitors from Oilfield Witness, visited ten MiQ-certified sites across the Permian Basin, which spans the Texas-New Mexico border. Using optical gas imaging cameras, they detected methane plumes invisible to the naked eye. Tim Doty, a former air quality inspector, described these as "huge emissions" at multiple locations. For instance, at BP's State Ella Mae Hall gas well, an unlit flare was malfunctioning, acting more like a vent pipe than a combustion device. Similarly, the BP-operated Gretchen Northrup well showed significant emissions from flaring and maintenance issues.
BP claims all its onshore upstream operations in the U.S. are MiQ-certified, with ratings from A to C, implying leakage rates below 0.2% of production. However, the investigation suggests actual emissions may be far higher. Gunnar Schade, an atmospheric chemist at Texas A&M University, noted that flaring inherently releases methane, making low emissions difficult in oil-rich regions like the Permian, where flaring is rampant.
Discrepancies in Emissions Reporting
Satellite data from MethaneSAT, launched in 2024, indicates that methane emissions in the Permian Basin from May 2024 to June 2025 were four times higher than U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates, which rely on operator-reported data. Researchers estimate average emissions range between 2.4-4% of production, exponentially exceeding even a C grade from MiQ. In New Mexico, ExxonMobil's Poker Lake complex, holding an A rating since 2022, showed methane leaking from tanks and faulty equipment, with aerial surveys detecting three "super-emitter" events in 2024.
ExxonMobil reported no venting or flaring in regulatory filings during this period, highlighting a gap between reported and actual emissions. DataDesk, an investigative consultancy, cross-referenced satellite and aerial data, uncovering additional methane plumes at visited sites, further questioning the accuracy of certification.
Auditing and Certification Process Criticized
MiQ certification involves evaluating methane intensity, leak prevention procedures, and monitoring technologies through third-party audits. However, auditors do not conduct independent emissions measurements on site. Instead, they review operator-provided emissions inventories, assessing documentation and calculations. Elizabeth McGurk of Montrose Environmental, an MiQ audit firm, stated auditors verify inventories through interviews and evaluations but do not calculate emissions themselves.
Dan Zimmerle of Colorado State University pointed out that emissions occur continuously, but measurements are often snapshots, with the rest inferred statistically. He questioned how verifiers can truly know what was done, as most companies estimate emissions rather than measure them directly. Peer-reviewed studies using satellite observations consistently find that nations and companies emit more methane than they report, undermining certification credibility.
Certificate Trading and Regulatory Concerns
MiQ certificates can be decoupled from facilities and traded, allowing companies to offset emissions by purchasing certificates for gas with higher emissions. This practice has raised concerns among EU officials, including MEP Jutta Paulus, who noted it may not comply with regulations requiring certificates to be tied to certified gas. While MiQ claims transfers are controlled, certificates can be traded within countries, making it impossible to trace if "certified" gas comes from low-emission sources.
Brandon Locke of the Clean Air Task Force warned that decoupling discourages real operational changes, likening it to "copying someone else's homework." Trading is growing, with deals like Centrica Energy's 10-year agreement to buy certificates from Seneca Resources, which holds an A rating, without physical gas delivery.
Lobbying and Industry Pressure
As the EU finalizes methane requirements, lobbying for voluntary certification intensifies. Industry groups like the American Petroleum Institute and FuelsEurope are pushing for certification to suffice, amid energy market destabilization from geopolitical events. MiQ has hired lobbying firms, including one led by former ExxonMobil lobbyist Axel Scheuer, to promote its framework in Brussels as a "pragmatic compliance tool." The European Council has endorsed third-party certification, but experts like Kevin Kircher argue credibility requires independent measurement by neutral parties.
Georges Tijbosch, MiQ's CEO, defends certification as a cost-effective way to reduce methane emissions, emphasizing accountability over capability. However, the investigation underscores the need for robust, transparent verification to ensure certification schemes genuinely curb emissions and support climate goals.
