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Determining an industrial reporting obligation

Last updated on April 2, 2024

Industrial operations in B.C. may be required to report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the Province depending on the amount emitted each year.

If an industrial operation has not reported emissions before, it is required to determine annually if it has a requirement to register. The operator must determine, no later than February 28th of the reporting period, whether the operation's total GHG emissions for the calendar year are likely to be greater than or equal to 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Registration for GHG reporting is required by May 31st each year. 

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Operations required to report emissions

Requirements for reporting industrial GHG emissions in B.C. are based on three key factors:

  • Quantity of emissions
  • Type of operation
  • Type of activity

Quantity

Operations that emit 10,000 tonnes or more of CO2e emissions per year – and those that have emitted more than 10,000 tonnes in any of the previous three years – are required to report emissions. Emissions from biomass listed in Item 1 of Schedule C of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Regulation must be reported but do not count toward the 10,000 tonne threshold.

In addition, reporting operations emitting 25,000 tonnes or more of CO2e emissions during either the current reporting cycle or any of the previous three reporting cycles – and all regulated operations – have a third-party verification requirement. Emissions from Item 1 of Schedule C of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Regulation are excluded from the verification threshold.

Type of operation

The Greenhouse Gas Emission Reporting Regulation distinguishes between a single facility operation, a linear facilities operation, and an electricity import operation. See key definitions.

Single facility operations are reporting operations where specified industrial activities are carried out at a single facility by an operator and with sources of GHG emissions listed in Schedule A, Table 1. Both single and linear facility operations have requirements to report on emissions from general stationary combustion. Only single-facility operations have a requirement to report on emissions from mobile equipment.

Linear facility operations are reporting operations where oil and gas activities are carried out at one or more (typically smaller) facilities that are controlled and directed by the same operator and encompass industrial activities listed in Table 2 of Schedule A, including:

  • oil and gas extraction and gas processing activities
  • electricity transmission
  • natural gas transmission, natural gas distribution, or natural gas storage
  • liquefied natural gas (LNG) activities
  • oil transmission
  • carbon dioxide transmission

Type of activity

Activities listed in Table 1 are also applicable to linear facilities operations if they are carried out at these operations.

The regulation includes a detailed list of activities (associated with industrial production, manufacturing, processing and refining) and emissions source types (associated with these activities) that result in GHG emissions that must be reported – see Schedule A. 

Emissions quantification methodologies are prescribed for each activity, in Column 5 of Schedule A, Table 1 and 2 of the regulation. For further details, see the emissions quantification methodologies.

Types of operations that may have an obligation to report

Operations that may be required to report emissions include:

  • Aluminum or alumina production
  • Base metals smelting
  • Cement production
  • Chemical/petrochemical production
  • Large commercial or institutional facilities
  • Electricity generation and co-generation (thermal)
  • Electricity transmission (SF6 emissions)
  • Food production
  • Lime manufacturing
  • Manufacturing
  • Mining
  • Non-metallic mineral products manufacturing
  • Oil and gas extraction and gas processing
  • Petroleum refining
  • Pipeline transportation/transmission
  • Pulp and paper production
  • Wood products manufacturing
  • Liquefied natural gas (LNG) operation
  • Electricity import operation

Operations not required to report emissions

The Greenhouse Gas Emission Reporting Regulation does not apply to:

Reporting obligation for opt-ins under the B.C. Output-Based Pricing System 

An industrial operation must register and apply to be either an opted-in reporting operation or an opted-in regulated operation.  

Industrial operations that apply to opt in as a regulated operation must demonstrate they can fulfill the same reporting and verification requirements of a regulated operation, including the ability to accurately track or quantify their GHG emissions and production, and an annual preparation of a verified compliance report.  

Reporting operations

Industrial operations that emit less than 10,000 tonnes CO2e per year may apply to be a reporting operation. If the operation also produces a regulated product, it has the option to opt in as a regulated operation.  

Regulated operations

Industrial operations that produce regulated products and emit less than 10,000 tonnes CO2e per year and are approved to opt in to the B.C. Output-Based Pricing System (B.C. OBPS) will be considered regulated operations. Operations will have the same reporting and compliance obligations as all other regulated operations. Regulated operations are divided into the following categories:  

  • Single Facility Operation (SFO) - regulated operation where activities are generally carried out at a single site. For example, a mine or a pulp mill
  • Linear Facility Operation (LFO) - regulated operation where oil and gas activities are carried out at one or more, typically smaller, facilities and are controlled and directed by the same operator. For example, multiple well sites or a pipeline

Additional information on opting-in to the B.C. OBPS can be found in Getting Started with the B.C OBPS: General Program Guidance (PDF, 330KB).

Contact information


GHGRegulator@gov.bc.ca