US President Barack Obama’s administration has set out a new goal to cut methane emissions from the nation’s oil and gas sector.

It aims to reduce the powerful greenhouse gas from oil and gas production by up to 45% by 2025 from the levels recorded in 2012.

Methane emissions accounted for nearly 10% of US greenhouse gas emissions in 2012, of which nearly 30% came from the production, transmission and distribution of oil and natural gas.

“The steps announced today are a sound economic and public health strategy because reducing methane emissions means capturing valuable fuel that is otherwise wasted and reducing other harmful pollutants”, the administration said.

It added the new goal is expected to save up to 180 billion cubic feet of natural gas by 2025 – enough to heat more than two million homes for a year.