Indonesia ranks 2nd in fossil fuel methane emissions in South and SE Asia, IEA says

By Romel S. Gurky

Indonesia is the second-largest emitter of methane from fossil fuel operations in South and Southeast Asia, with total emissions exceeding 3 million tons in 2025, according to a report by the International Energy Agency.

The report, titled Global Methane Tracker 2026, said coal mining accounts for the majority of Indonesia’s methane emissions, with the remainder coming from oil and gas activities.

Globally, fossil fuel operations contributed about 35% of methane emissions, totaling around 124 million tons in 2025. Coal alone accounted for 43 million tons, supported by record-high production of oil, gas, and coal.

China was the largest emitter globally with 25 million tons, while Indonesia ranked eighth worldwide. Within South and Southeast Asia, India ranked first with nearly 4 million tons of emissions, followed by Indonesia.

Coal mining is the dominant source of methane emissions in the region, contributing more than 60% of the total 13 million tons recorded in 2025.

According to Tim Gould, chief energy economist at the IEA, countries and companies have raised their ambition on methane reduction, but implementation remains critical.

“Setting targets is only a first step. These targets must be supported by policies, implementation plans, and concrete actions,” Gould said.

Read also: Energy ministry partners with IEA to tackle methane emissions in oil and gas

Independent analysis cited in the report indicates that Indonesia’s coal mine methane emissions may be significantly underestimated. Methane intensity is estimated to be 12.5 times higher than the emission factors currently used in official reporting.

Indonesia is also identified as the third-largest emitter of coal mine methane globally, after China and Russia.

While Indonesia has regulations covering methane emissions and gas flaring, implementation faces challenges including limited access to monitoring technology, insufficient technical capacity, and outdated data systems.

The IEA estimates that about 70% of methane emissions from fossil fuels could be reduced using existing technologies. In coal mining, emissions can be mitigated through methane capture, utilization, or oxidation, while in oil and gas, vapor recovery systems can reduce emissions from low-pressure gas streams.

The report also noted that more than 35 million tons of methane emissions could be reduced globally at no net cost, particularly in the oil and gas sector, where captured gas can be sold or reused.

The IEA said reducing methane emissions could provide both climate benefits and improved energy security, especially amid current global supply constraints.

Editing by Alexander Ginting