Alberta Lifts Emissions Cap as Gas Flaring Reaches Record Levels

Alberta has removed the regulatory ceiling on natural gas flaring due to the industry exceeding those limits for two consecutive years. This move comes as oil sands production in the province is expected to rise 5% in 2023 to a record 3.5 million barrels per day.

The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) revealed that the gas flaring limit was lifted following instructions from the provincial government, after the industry flared approximately 912.7 million cubic meters of natural gas in 2024, which is a 36% increase over the annual limit of 670 million cubic meters.
The limit was also exceeded in 2023, with total annual flare volumes reaching 753 million cubic meters. Gas flaring is a practice where natural gas is burned off at oil extraction sites, releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.


The increase in flaring is likely a byproduct of increased oil production, as oil and gas are often found together and gas is sometimes seen as a byproduct rather than a valuable resource to be captured and sold. The removal of the emissions ceiling raises concerns about the environmental impact of the oil and gas industry and the province's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.