Ecuador – Methane Regulatory Support for the Oil and Gas Sector

Subscribe

Rationale

Ecuador is seeking to strengthen methane mitigation in its oil and gas sector by improving the implementation of existing legislation on non-routine flaring and developing additional regulations to address other methane emission sources.

The project responds to a request from Ecuador’s Hydrocarbons Regulation and Control Agency (ARCH), under the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MAE), for support through the Climate and Clean Air Coalition’s Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme (FFRP).

The hydrocarbon sector contributes more than a third of Ecuador’s anthropogenic methane emissions, estimated at 309 kt CH₄ per year, principally from oil production. The project will support Ecuador’s efforts to meet its climate objectives and international methane commitments while strengthening national technical and institutional capacity. FC-SEP2026-01 Ecuador Fossil Fu… FC-SEP2026-01 Ecuador Fossil Fu…

The project is part of CCAC’s Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme (FFRP).

Objectives

The project aims to support Ecuador to:

  • Strengthen technical and institutional capacity to develop, implement and monitor methane policies and regulations for the oil and gas sector.
  • Support implementation of existing legislation on the elimination of non-routine flaring.
  • Develop and implement additional regulations to reduce methane emissions from the hydrocarbons sector.
  • Strengthen monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems for fossil fuel methane emissions.
  • Improve government capacity to engage with oil and gas operators and other stakeholders on methane mitigation and regulatory compliance.

Activities

To achieve these objectives, the project will:

  • Map relevant stakeholders to support effective coordination and implementation.
  • Develop a tailored framework outlining roles, responsibilities and steps for implementing and sustaining methane regulations.
  • Conduct methane mitigation assessments and identify priority reduction options.
  • Support the development of new or strengthened methane policies, regulations and technical guidelines in consultation with government and industry stakeholders.
  • Provide technical support for implementation of ARCH Resolution 003/2024 on the phased elimination of routine flaring of associated gas.
  • Develop technical templates to support implementation of methane regulations in the hydrocarbons sector.
  • Support dissemination of regulatory requirements, implementation steps, enforcement mechanisms and compliance standards.
  • Train government and other relevant actors on best practices for methane MRV and data collection.
  • Develop recommendations to strengthen national MRV systems.
  • Organize awareness-raising workshops and training sessions for public- and private-sector actors on methane mitigation and regulatory compliance. FC-SEP2026-01 Ecuador Fossil Fu…

Key outcomes

Strengthening institutional and regulatory capacity

Ecuador will strengthen its capacity to develop, implement and monitor methane policies and regulations in the oil and gas sector, supported by improved stakeholder coordination and a tailored implementation framework.

Advancing methane mitigation regulations

The project will support Ecuador in developing and beginning implementation of new or enhanced methane regulations, including measures addressing flaring and other priority methane emission sources.

Strengthening methane MRV

Government institutions will receive training and technical support to strengthen methane emissions data collection, monitoring, reporting and verification systems.

Increasing stakeholder engagement

The project will strengthen government engagement with state-owned and private-sector operators and improve awareness of methane mitigation measures and regulatory compliance requirements.

Key stakeholders

Increasing stakeholder engagement

  • Ministry of Environment and Energy (MAE)
  • Hydrocarbons Regulation and Control Agency (ARCH)
  • EP Petroecuador
  • Other oil and gas sector companies
  • Industry associations, academia and civil society organizations

International stakeholders

  • UNEP International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO)
  • Carbon Mapper
  • International Energy Agency (IEA)
  • World Bank Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Partnership
  • Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organisation (OLACDE)
Tags
Pollutants (SLCPs)
Methane