A large plume of methane was detected on October 20 in Liaoning province near a natural gas pipeline of China Oil & Gas Pipeline Network Corporation (PipeChina). A calculation based on satellite data from the European Space Agency indicates that the plume represents a release of 107 tons per hour of methane. PipeChina and China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment have yet to comment regarding the methane detection.
The report came after countries joined a global pledge to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030. China, along with other big methane emitters in Russia and India, has not participated in the agreement. However, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin said that the country is ready to work with other parties to advance global cooperation on cutting emissions of non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases.
