‘Breakthrough’ as Turkmenistan starts fixing ‘mindboggling’ methane mega-leaks
Secretive state begins repairs on ageing facilities after being revealed as worst country for leaks of potent greenhouse gas
TL;DR
- Turkmenistan has begun fixing major methane leaks from its oil and gas facilities, an action deemed a significant breakthrough.
- Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, trapping 80 times more heat than CO2 and contributing significantly to global heating.
- The country was revealed as the worst for methane mega-leaks in 2023, prompting engagement with foreign partners and the UN.
- Eight leaks have been repaired by fixing corroded pipes, faulty wells, and failing flares.
- The UN Methane Alert and Response System (Mars) sent 192 alerts to Turkmenistan in the last year, with the country responding to about 20%.
- The US, Iran, Russia, and China have failed to respond to Mars alerts.
- Mexico has a 100% response rate to Mars alerts but has yet to complete a fix for a large offshore leak.
- Turkmenistan joined the global methane pledge in December 2023 and has been a major supplier of gas to China.
- Kazakhstan has also stopped eight leaks, with a smaller overall number of alerts.
- Stemming methane emissions is considered the quickest and most cost-effective method to reduce climate pollution.