Training Program: Introduction to Methane Emission Management and OGMP 2.0 Masterclass

Photo 1. Group Photo of the participants, speakers, and organizers of the first MLP Masterclass in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on 15 to 16 November 2023

Heading into COP 28, the United States Government and the global community have prioritized methane emissions reduction in the United States and internationally. This commitment has led to unprecedented global collaboration, exemplified by initiatives such as the Global Methane Initiative and the Global Methane Pledge, which has garnered over 150 signatories.

Methane, deemed a “super pollutant” due to being more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 20-year period, stands as the second-largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide, accounting for approximately 30% of global warming since the industrial revolution. Realizing near-term reductions in methane could swiftly and significantly impact atmospheric warming.

Globally, the energy sector possesses the largest potential for cost-effective and technically feasible methane mitigation. Likewise, emissions from the energy sector in the ASEAN region also constitute the largest portion among other sectors. According to the 7^th ASEAN Energy Outlook, the region’s total emissions will grow by more than 50% from 2020 to 2030 under the baseline (business-as-usual) scenario. Addressing methane emissions in this sector therefore presents a dual opportunity: achieving climate goals while enhancing energy security and affordability.

Taking advantage of this opportunity and signalling regional collaboration to combat climate change in the energy sector, ASEAN oil and gas (O&G) companies convened in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on November 15-16, 2023, for Asia-Pacific Climate Week (APCW) 2023. Representatives from the O&G companies also participated in the first session of the Masterclass series titled “Introduction to Methane Emission Management” as part of the ASEAN Energy Sector Methane Leadership Program (MLP).

Launched at Energy Asia 2023 in Kuala Lumpur on June 26, 2023, the MLP spans 18 months and concentrates on fostering effective methane emission management in the ASEAN O&G industry. It aims to support the Global Methane Pledge 2030 through regional collaboration, technology transfer, networking, knowledge sharing, and capacity building among oil and gas companies, regional and international organizations, and other stakeholders. This pioneering masterclass, a cornerstone of the program, was organized by USAID Southeast Asia Smart Power Program  (SPP) in close collaboration with PETRONAS, ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE), ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and other MLP partners.

The first Masterclass drew 65 participants representing MLP partners and ASEAN oil and gas companies from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. It centred on core training modules from the UNEP Training program, delivered by expert trainers from Carbon Limits. These modules covered crucial topics such as methane detection, measurement, quantification, and mitigation.

Complementary to the core curriculum, speakers from international agencies and thought leaders shared their resources pertinent to methane management. Examples included EDF’s MethaneSAT, Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security JOGMEC’s methane testing facility, Methane Guiding Principles Masterclass and online resources, Panametric’s Flare.IQ model for flare emissions monitoring, UNEP’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0), and the U.S. Department of Commerce Commercial Law Development Program’s (CLDP) Methane Handbook. SPP also presented and co-facilitated a discussion with EDF on applying principles of Organizational Change Management to Methane Emissions Management.

Following the workshop, participants demonstrated an increase in knowledge compared to their pre-training assessment. Impressively, 74 percent of respondents affirmed achieving the stated learning objectives. Additionally, a substantial 76 percent expressed satisfaction with the technical depth and content of the Masterclass in a survey.

Building on the success of the first Masterclass, MLP partners are gearing up for the next session in the series. This session will focus on methane emission reporting, specifically Level 4 and 5 reporting under UNEP’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0). Additionally, a facilitated ASEAN roundtable discussion is scheduled to be hosted in March 2024.

The agenda and speakers’ presentations from the first Masterclass can be downloaded from here.