- President Trump plans to roll back Biden-era methane regulations to lower US energy production costs.
- The US Environmental Protection Agency claims that the original methane rules understated their costs and threatened domestic oil and gas production.
- Ending these regulations is expected to increase US oil and gas production and make American energy more competitive internationally.
- This could intensify price competition for African gas exporters like Nigeria, Algeria, and Egypt, especially in the European market.
Trump said on October 27 that ending the rules would save consumers and energy producers $45 billion, unlock 210 million barrels of oil and increase access to vast quantities of natural gas. The move is part of his administration’s push to expand US energy production by reducing regulatory costs for oil and gas companies
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the 2024 Biden-era methane rules were initially estimated to cost $18 billion. The agency now argues that the estimate understated the costs, claiming the regulations threatened domestic oil and gas production and would
“Behind every barrel of oil and every cubic foot of natural gas produced in the U.S. are millions of workers, businesses, and the heartbeat of this nation’s economy. The Biden EPA destructively targeted all this. President Trump promised to end the war on oil and natural gas, and I vowed to do my part, while protecting our environment,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin
The regulations, introduced under former President Joe Biden, require energy companies to detect and repair methane leaks, monitor emissions and limit routine gas flaring. The administration’s rollback proposal still needs to complete the regulatory process before it can take effect
If lower compliance costs encourage American companies to produce more oil and gas, the US could become a more competitive supplier in international markets, putting pressure on African exporters to compete on price
Nigeria, Algeria and Egypt are established African gas producers, while Mozambique, Senegal and Mauritania are developing projects intended to . These countries are seeking buyers for their gas, particularly in Europe, where suppliers compete on price, reliability and environmental standards
The International Energy Agency expects African natural gas production to grow by around 1% in 2026, slower than projected global demand growth of almost 2.5%. It also expects Africa’s net LNG exports to continue declining, highlighting the challenges facing the continent’s gas trade
However, cheaper US production does not automatically mean African exports will fall. The impact will depend on how much additional American gas reaches the market,global prices, shipping costs and the pace at which African projects expand
African exporters also face environmental requirements in markets such as the European Union. Even if the US relaxes its domestic methane rules, African suppliers and American competitors selling into Europe will still need to comply with applicable EU requirements
For African producers, this creates a straightforward challenge: they must compete with potentially cheaper American gas while controlling methane leaks and meeting buyers’ environmental standards. Capturing gas that would otherwise escape or be burned off could also help them recover more saleable fuel and reduce waste