Project description

Methane emissions from oil and gas operations remained a significant climate challenge across many producing countries. Policymakers often lacked country-specific evidence on the costs, benefits, and feasibility of methane abatement measures needed to design effective regulations and investment strategies.

Carbon Limits assessed oil and gas methane mitigation opportunities in nine African and Latin American countries in partnership with the Clean Air Task Force (CATF). The team developed country-specific Marginal Abatement Cost Curves (MACCs), combining emissions data, stakeholder consultations, and local economic conditions to quantify the costs and abatement potential of LDAR programs, vapor recovery units, pneumatic equipment replacement, and flaring improvements. The analysis accounted for country-specific factors such as gas prices, infrastructure access, labor costs.

The study demonstrated that substantial methane reductions could be achieved using proven technologies, often at low or negative cost. It identified key barriers (including infrastructure constraints, regulatory gaps, limited gas monetization opportunities, and financing challenges) and provided tailored recommendations to overcome them. The final report was designed to support policymakers in prioritizing methane mitigation measures, designing regulations, and identifying areas where targeted support could unlock cost-effective emissions reductions.