TotalEnergies warns indirect emissions could rise as it aims to sell more gas

By America Hernandez

PARIS -Plans by TotalEnergies to sell more natural gas in coming years will increase the company's indirect emissions of planet-warming CO2, the French energy company said on Thursday in its annual sustainability progress report.

But TotalEnergies also said global emissions would fall due to its clients switching away from dirtier fuels.

In 2024 the French oil major emitted 376 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent, of which 342 million tons were indirect so-called Scope 3 emissions, which come from clients burning purchased fuels. 

That is slightly down from 386 tons of CO2-equivalent in 2023.

While it plans to reduce emissions from company operations in coming years, TotalEnergies did not modify its target to keep Scope 3 emissions under 400 tons in 2030 — a target which it has met for the past two years.

That's because the firm expects the figure will increase as it aims to grow its liquefied natural gas business by 3% annually through 2027.

"The 2030 target, which is a cap, is where it should be, because we are not going to constrain the sale of gas," said Aurelien Hamelle, president of sustainability and strategy.

"By selling more gas we are helping clients displace more emitting fuels like coal, like fuel oil... That means our Scope 3 emissions will be increasing but overall Scope 1 and 2 emissions for the planet are going down, something we want to insist upon," Hamelle added.

TotalEnergies tightened its 2025 methane emissions target to 25.6 kilotons, a 60% reduction compared to 2020. Last year it emitted 29 kilotons.

It slightly trimmed its 2025 target for direct Scope 1 and 2 emissions and said it would allocate $1 billion from 2026 to 2028 on energy-saving measures, including powering drilling rigs with batteries instead of diesel.

(Reporting by America Hernandez in Paris and Alban Kacher in Gdansk, Editing by Louise Heavens)