Cairn Oil & Gas Signs MoU with UNEP to Join Global Methane Partnership

Cairn Oil & Gas, part of Vedanta Group and a private oil and gas exploration company in India, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The agreement signifies Cairn's commitment to join the Oil & Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0.

With this agreement, Cairn becomes India's first oil and gas producer to commit to a global initiative aimed at reporting and reducing methane emissions.

Consequently, through this partnership, Cairn will enhance its decarbonisation strategies by implementing effective methods to mitigate methane emissions.

Cairn Oil and Gas to achieve Net-Zero by 2030

OGMP 2.0 is UNEP’s key program for reducing methane through rigorous measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) practices.

In line with this commitment, Cairn will establish a five-year methane reduction target and systematically share its progress with OGMP.

By utilising data analysis and precise reporting, Cairn aspires to boost its emissions reduction efforts, which aligns with its ambition to achieve Net Zero Carbon status by 2030.

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In addition, this collaboration positions Cairn as a leader in methane transparency within the Indian oil and gas sector, contributing significantly to global and national climate goals.

It supports the Global Methane Pledge to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030.

OGMP 2.0 covers about 25% of India’s oil and gas production, enhancing its regional impact and setting methane management standards.

Giulia Ferrini, OGMP 2.0 Programme Manager, said, “We are thrilled to welcome our first member from India and hope that Cairn’s commitment will inspire other companies from the country to join OGMP 2.0 and contribute to improving methane emissions reporting and management practices in the oil and gas sector”.

Earlier this year, Cairn announced its plan to accelerate its Net Zero Carbon target to 2030, focusing on operational optimization, emission reduction technologies, and process reliability improvements.

Cairn has achieved a 60% reduction in potential gas flaring volumes over the past four years, underscoring its commitment to methane reduction and climate goals.