Plugging Methane Leaks can Return Double the Gas lost due to Hormuz Closure: Report

Methane emissions from the global energy sector remained at near-record highs in 2025, according to the IEA’s Global Methane Tracker 2026. Despite a surge in high-level political commitments and the availability of low-cost technologies to plug leaks, the report revealed that there is a persistent implementation gap that threatens international climate goals.

The report, which utilised advanced satellite monitoring and ground-level measurement campaigns, estimated that the production and use of fossil fuels resulted in 124 million tonnes (Mt) of methane emissions last year. In simpler terms, methane is responsible for nearly 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the industrial revolution. 

Now, as methane is roughly 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, cutting methane will hugely reduce global warming.

According to the report, plugging methane leaks and stopping non-emergency gas flaring could return 200 bcm (billion cubic metres) of gas to the market annually in the long term. This is equivalent to twice the volume lost due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

A cause for energy security

The report found that the energy sector remains the primary culprit, accounting for approximately 35% of all methane emissions from human activity. According to the IEA data, oil operations led the pack, contributing 45 Mt. Coal mining followed closely at 43 Mt, while natural gas activities accounted for 36 Mt. Apart from this, bioenergy, primarily from traditional biomass used for cooking in developing nations, added another 20 Mt.

The report also highlighted the role of super-emitters, or large-scale leakage events often visible from space. While the top 10 emitting countries, led by China, the United States, and Russia, account for the vast majority of the total, the IEA noted that nearly 70% of these emissions could be eliminated using existing technology.

The report linked methane abatement directly to global energy security. At a time of heightened geopolitical tension, specifically supply disruptions following the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, capturing leaked gas has become an economic imperative.

“In recent years, countries and companies have raised their ambitions on methane, moving the issue higher up the policy agenda. However, setting reduction targets is only a first step, and it is important to ensure they are backed up by policies, implementation plans and real actions,” said IEA Chief Energy Economist Tim Gould. “This is not only a climate issue: there are also major energy security benefits that can come from tackling methane and flaring, especially at a time when the world is urgently looking for additional supply amid the current crisis.” 

According to the report, many solutions for reducing methane emissions are well known and cost effective. Around 70% of methane emissions from fossil fuels, or nearly 85 Mt, could be abated with existing technologies, including three-quarters of emissions from oil and gas and about half of coal emissions. 

Based on average energy prices in 2025, more than 35 Mt could be avoided at no net cost. This amount would be even larger today given elevated price levels in recent months, according to the report.

Implementation gap

While 159 countries have now joined the Global Methane Pledge, which aims for a 30% reduction by 2030, actual progress is lagging. The IEA found that while more than half of global oil and gas production is now covered by company pledges to reach near-zero emissions, those promises have yet to materialise.

The report concluded that to meet the 1.5°C goal, methane emissions from fossil fuel operations must fall by 75% by 2030. The solutions are well-known: leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs, the installation of vapor recovery units, and the replacement of old equipment. Also, roughly 40% of current oil and gas emissions could be avoided at no net cost, as the value of the captured gas covers the investment required.