Invisible plumes and ‘terrible pollution’: the reality of the US gas sites rated ‘grade A’

Field observations at MiQ-certified sites in the Permian Basin found visible methane leaks and malfunctioning flaring equipment. Photograph: Matthew Brown/AP

A rapidly expanding certification scheme run by a UK nonprofit and used by major gas companies may be understating the actual methane emissions it purports to certify, a Guardian investigation has found.

BP, ExxonMobil and EQT are among the producers that have turned to London-based MiQ to demonstrate that their US-produced natural gas complies with the European Union Methane Regulation, or EUMR, which aims to curb energy-related emissions.