ENERGY TRANSITION

BP claims its first Asia-Pacific 'carbon offset' LNG cargo

BP Singapore has announced it has delivered its first carbon offset LNG cargo in the region, transporting it to CPC Corporation in Taiwan.

Questions around carbon neutral LNG claims persist

Questions around carbon neutral LNG claims persist

The cargo was sourced from BP's LNG portfolio and delivered to the Yung An terminal in Taiwan this month. 

BP said the CO2 and methane emissions associated with the LNG cargo, from wellhead to discharge terminal for the specific source and voyage, were estimated using its greenhouse gas emissions methodology for LNG. 

It said the methodology has been developed "relevant to international standards" saying it incorporated input from experts including Wood Mackenzie LNG Carbon Emissions Tool, and may be updated from time to time. 

"Natural gas has a key role to play in ‎getting the world to net zero. This new offer further demonstrates our determination ‎to remain one of the world's leading and most innovative LNG suppliers," BP executive vice president of trading & shipping Carol Howle said.

"The ‎development of a clear and reliable methodology for quantifying the carbon intensity ‎of our LNG supply chain is an important step in helping our customers deliver their ‎sustainability goals and supports our ambition to help the world get to net zero."

BP's first carbon offset LNG cargo was delivered to Sempra LNG in July at the Energia Costa Azul terminal in Mexico. 

More and more companies are turning to so-called carbon offset, or carbon-neutral LNG as a way to offset the emissions associated with upstream production, liquefaction and transport. 

However, it has been repeatedly noted by market analysts and watchers that there is no industry-wide definition for ‘carbon-neutral' LNG, making it challenging to quantify its promoter's claims that they can credibly tally the emissions a cargo creates, versus the amount needed to offset them. 

"No one has convincingly produced an accurate calculation," Bloomberg New Energy Finance analyst Fauziah Marzuki said last month.  

"All of these deals are making assumptions."

Also carbon neutral LNG cargoes generally only cover Scope 1 and 2 emissions, not Scope 3 - the largest part of its carbon footprint. 

More widely, BP said it is committed to reducing emissions across its portfolio by cutting oil exploration and production and investing heavily in renewables. 

It has a long-term oil price assumption of US$55 per barrel and its overhead strategy centers on the energy transition accelerating sharply over the next decade. 

"BP does not intend to rely on carbon credits to  meet its 2050 net zero aims," it said. 

 

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