Confirmed by New Study of Wuppertal Institute: Emissions from Russian Gas Transmission Lower than Often Suspected

Moscow/Wuppertal, 1 October 2003. A new study of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy confirms the low greenhouse gas emissions for natural gas compared with other fossil fuels. On the occasion of the Carbon Business Forum at the World Climate Conference in Moscow from 29 September to 3 October 2003, Professor Peter Hennicke, President of the Wuppertal Institute said: "When the existing studies are compared, it becomes obvious that the greenhouse gas balance for natural gas is better than for coal or oil." Professor Hennicke continued that "this was established by analysing the greenhouse gas emissions released in connection with the Russian gas exports."

By comparison of numerous process chain analyses - concerning emissions from the supply and use of fuels - as well as by re-evaluation of the measurements made by Ruhrgas and Gazprom in cooperation with the Max-Planck Institute for Atmospheric Chemistry in the mid-nineties, it was found that isolated statements on high gas losses from the Russian gas export grid are unjustified. "Rather, the majority of the existing studies concur in establishing only relatively moderate emissions from the export grid of Gazprom", said Professor Hennicke who further stressed: "The major part of greenhouse gas emissions does not result from leaks, but from the fuel gas required for transportation of the natural gas to western Europe and from maintenance work." Ruhrgas and Gazprom have been cooperating for quite some time under an internationally approved joint implementation project to reduce fuel gas requirements.

In order to update the results of the methane measurements made in the nineties, the Wuppertal Institute developed a new measurement programme. Already in the summer of this year, parts of the Russian gas transmission grid were examined in cooperation with Ruhrgas, Gazprom and the Moscow Institute VNIIGAZ and also assisted by the Max-Planck Institute. Measurements were made on the transmission sections of Mostransgaz and Sewergazprom, both subsidiaries of OAO Gazprom. More measurements on the transmission grid of another subsidiary are being prepared.

The measured values determined during the examination are being analysed statistically. "There are many indications that it will be possible to confirm the low emission values of earlier measurements" said Mr. Stefan Lechtenböhmer, the project manager. The complete analysis of the measured data is expected to be available at the end of this year.

Press release by Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy

in the Science Centre North Rhine-Westphalia

Responsible: Prof. Dr. Peter Hennicke, President

Contact: Dorle Riechert, Public Relations

Tel. +49 (0)202 2492-180, Fax +49 (0)202 2492-108

E-mail: pr@wupperinst.org