PARIS – TotalEnergies (NYSE: TTE), the French oil major, will fit all upstream assets which it operates with real-time methane leak detection equipment by the end of next year to help it cut emissions, it said on Thursday.
Methane emissions remain in the atmosphere for less time than CO2 but have a higher planet-warming effect, according to climate scientists.
Totalenergies’ announcement, made on the sidelines of the COP-29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan will help Total reach its target of slashing methane emissions to near zero by 2030.
The French company hopes to grow its oil and gas operations with new exploration even as it cuts overall emissions, notably by electrifying production facilities and reducing flaring.
Last year Total was among 50 oil and gas companies to pledge to eliminate routine flaring, or burning off gas from oil fields, and to step up monitoring to reduce emissions.
