Methane Emissions - The Times Of Central Asia

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TCA Interviews

UNEP Interview: From Space, Central Asia’s Methane Challenge Comes Into Focus

Satellites are changing the way the world sees methane. What was once an invisible leak from a well, flare, pipeline, landfill, or coal mine can now be detected from space, traced to a specific site, and sent to governments and companies for action. A new analysis by the United Nations Environment Programme’s International Methane Emissions Observatory puts that system to the test. Its Methane Alert and Response System, known as MARS, uses 35 satellite instruments to identify major human-caused methane “super-emitters” and notify those responsible. UNEP says the system has already enabled 41 mitigation cases in 11 countries, covering sources estimated to have released 1.2 million tonnes of methane. For Central Asia, the findings are especially relevant. UNEP’s new data includes a rolling list of the world’s 50 largest satellite-detected methane sources, covering oil and gas, coal, and waste, and shows where rapid action may be possible. Several of those sources are linked to Turkmenistan’s oil and gas sector, placing the region firmly inside a global debate over methane transparency, climate responsibility, and whether satellite alerts can lead to action on the ground. Of the 50 sources featured in the latest UNEP/IMEO snapshot, China has the largest number, while Turkmenistan stands out sharply for Central Asia, with the second-largest individual source and four of the top ten. Methane is shorter-lived than carbon dioxide, but far more powerful in the near term. That makes cutting large leaks one of the fastest ways to slow global warming. The harder question, as UNEP’s latest data makes clear, is no longer only where the leaks are, but who responds when they are found. On April 30, UNEP/IMEO presented the new MARS findings, highlighting the growing role of satellite-based monitoring in identifying major methane sources and pressing governments and companies to act. The Times of Central Asia spoke with Meghan Demeter, MARS Programme Manager, International Methane Emissions Observatory, UNEP. TCA: What does the new MARS data reveal about Central Asia specifically that may surprise readers? Demeter: The latest MARS data products depict the region as one with growing engagement and significant mitigation potential. Responses to MARS notifications are increasing, supported in particular by designated national focal points who play a key role in coordinating follow-up with operators. Based on the published 2025 data alone, the response rate across Central Asia currently stands at 22%. Managing a high volume of alerts requires more effort to achieve very high response rates compared to countries that receive only a handful of notifications. Encouragingly, the region has already recorded nearly 20 mitigation cases, underscoring the strong potential for emissions reductions when large methane sources are identified and addressed. TCA: Why does Central Asia matter in the global methane debate, even if it is not the world’s largest methane-emitting region? Demeter: Across Central Asia, looking at the 2025 data alone, UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory, through the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS), detected and notified 298 emission sources from the oil and gas sector. While satellites detect only a fraction of global methane emissions, satellites are highly effective at identifying so-called “super-emitters,” methane emission events so large they can be detected from space. These represent opportunities where action can deliver the greatest and fastest climate wins, while also catalyzing broader change. Regarding the “top 50” list of emission events, 11 of these sources are located in Central Asia, all from...

Darvaza Gas Crater

Turkmen Scientists Develop Plan to Extinguish the Darvaza Gas Crater

Scientists from the Scientific Research Institute of Natural Gas, under the state concern Turkmengaz, have proposed a method to extinguish the Darvaza gas crater, an uncontrolled fire that has been burning for decades in Turkmenistan’s Karakum Desert. The development was reported by Nebit-Gaz. The proposed solution involves drilling a new well to divert natural gas away from the crater. Researchers believe this strategy could significantly reduce, and eventually halt, the gas flow fueling the fire. If successful, the plan would allow Turkmenistan to mitigate environmental damage and conserve valuable energy resources. Turkmen officials have increasingly framed the Darvaza fire as both an environmental liability and an economic loss. Burning methane contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, while the continuous flare represents wasted natural gas in a country heavily dependent on energy exports for revenue. Located roughly 270 kilometers north of Ashgabat, the crater, officially named the “Glow of the Karakum”, sits atop the Chaljulba structure of the Zeagli-Darvaza group of gas fields. It measures approximately 60 meters in diameter and is 20 meters deep. The formation resulted from the collapse of an exploratory gas well. To prevent methane from harming local populations and wildlife, scientists ignited the gas, expecting the fire to burn out within days. However, the blaze has continued uninterrupted. Gas has been burning at the site since 1971, making the crater one of Central Asia’s most unusual natural and industrial spectacles. Researchers at the institute have conducted in-depth studies of the region’s geological structure, identifying a complex network of thin gas-bearing layers between 200 and 950 meters underground. These layers are interspersed with water-bearing and dense rock formations and are often hydrodynamically connected, enabling gas migration between them. Experts caution that extinguishing the fire has never been straightforward. The crater is fed not by a single reservoir but by multiple interconnected gas pockets, complicating efforts to isolate and shut off the fuel source. This interconnectivity explains why the fire persists despite the initial reservoir being relatively modest. Previous attempts to extinguish the fire included examining the crater floor to locate the original wellbore. Turkmengaz safety teams descended into the crater in hopes of installing flow-control equipment, but gas was found to be leaking from multiple surface outlets, rendering those efforts ineffective. Engineers found that sealing individual outlets risked increasing pressure elsewhere in the field, raising concerns that poorly planned interventions could trigger new leaks rather than resolve the problem. Now, using updated geological and production data, scientists have proposed drilling an operational and appraisal well in the Chaljulba field. By intensively extracting gas from the most productive reservoir, they aim to alter subsurface pressure conditions and redirect the gas away from the crater. According to Nebit-Gaz, this scientifically grounded approach offers a realistic path toward halting the fire and minimizing its environmental impact. If successful, the strategy could also allow some of the diverted gas to be captured for industrial use, potentially turning a long-standing liability into a limited economic resource. The Darvaza fire has drawn global attention...

Methane Emissions

Turkmenistan Identified as World’s Largest Source of Methane Super-Emitters

Turkmenistan has emerged as the top global source of major methane emissions in the oil and gas sector, according to new data published by the U.S.-based Stop Methane project. The findings, widely reported by Central Asian media, are based on satellite observations collected between January 1 and November 12 of this year. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, which leads the project, compiled the ranking using satellite data to identify sites with the highest methane emissions over specific time intervals. The list includes locations where emissions ranged from 3.7 to 10 tons per hour, levels deemed significant contributors to atmospheric pollution. Industrial facilities in Turkmenistan, particularly near Esenguly and Turkmenabat in the Balkan province, accounted for the majority of high-emission events. Out of the 25 entries in the ranking, 17 are located in Turkmenistan, far more than any other country. The remaining positions are held by a handful of other states, including Venezuela, Iran, Pakistan, and the United States. Decades-old Soviet-era infrastructure is widely cited by independent energy analysts as one of the main reasons Turkmenistan dominates global methane-leak rankings. Much of the country’s gas production network relies on older pipelines, compressors, and separation units that were never modernized to international leak-prevention standards. Because methane is colorless and odorless at industrial concentrations, these failures can persist unnoticed for long periods without satellite monitoring. Experts note that relatively inexpensive upgrades - such as replacing valves, improving maintenance, and installing continuous monitoring - could sharply reduce emissions if implemented. Stop Methane analysts based their assessment on over 3,000 methane plumes detected at approximately 2,000 oil and gas sites worldwide. The data was collected using the U.S.-operated Tanager-1 satellite, which monitors key oil and gas extraction zones. The satellite’s capabilities allow for the detection of large leaks that are often invisible from the ground. The surge in methane detection over the past two years reflects not a sudden rise in leaks but a leap in the resolution of satellite instruments now able to spot plumes previously undetectable. Earlier monitoring systems could identify only massive blowouts, whereas newer platforms - including Tanager-1 and NASA’s EMIT - can map medium-sized leaks in near-real time. This technological shift has revealed a methane footprint far larger than governments and companies had reported, making emissions visible to the international community and accelerating calls for transparency and mitigation. The organization highlighted the serious environmental impact of methane, emphasizing its role in both air pollution and climate change. Beyond the climate implications, methane leaks represent a direct economic loss for Turkmenistan. The International Energy Agency estimates that most methane emissions in the oil and gas sector can be avoided at little or no net cost because the captured gas can be sold. For a country whose budget relies heavily on gas exports, the volume of methane escaping from super-emitter sites translates into millions of dollars of lost revenue annually. Addressing these leaks, therefore, offers both environmental and fiscal benefits. For context, a site emitting five tons of methane...

Darvaza

Turkmenistan Contains ‘Gate to Hell’ Fire After Decades of Inferno

The fiery spectacle of the Darvaza Gas Crater, feared and revered as the 'Gate to Hell,' has dimmed significantly after over fifty years of continuous burning. Turkmenistan’s government announced that the massive blaze, located in the heart of the Karakum Desert, is now largely under control, marking a historic milestone in environmental and resource management efforts for the country. A Fiery Origin The story of the Darvaza Gas Crater began in 1971 when Soviet scientists attempted to study and manage methane leaks in the desert. Digging into what they believed was a minor pocket of natural gas, they inadvertently pierced a massive underground gas field. When the drilling rig and associated equipment suddenly collapsed into the cavern below, toxic gases began escaping uncontrollably. To prevent the spread of noxious fumes, the team decided to ignite the methane, hoping it would burn out in a matter of days. They were wrong. Instead of a quick resolution, the crater transformed into the longest-burning man-made fire, its eerie yellow flames licking at the edges of the 200-meter-wide pit. Visible from miles away, the burning crater became a bizarre and otherworldly landmark, attracting adventurers, scientists, and tourists alike. From 'Gate to Hell' to 'Shining of Karakum' [caption id="attachment_32708" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] Now officially named the 'Shining of Karakum,' the Darvaza Gas Crater has been both a source of national pride and a symbol of environmental mismanagement. The flames and the heat haze rising from the crater have drawn global attention, but they have also brought concerns. Methane seepage from the pit has been a major environmental issue, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, some locals living in the harsh desert environment have long argued that the crater should be extinguished, citing health risks and economic losses due to the wastage of valuable natural gas. A Turning Point in Fire Containment The efforts to extinguish the 'Gate to Hell' reached a decisive turning point in January 2022, when then-President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov ordered action to put out the flames, emphasizing the detrimental effects of the blaze on the environment and the squandered financial potential of the escaping gas. However, earlier attempts over the decades failed to curtail the inferno. This time, Turkmengaz, the state energy company, launched a sustained effort involving drilling additional wells around the crater to capture and divert the methane. According to Irina Luryeva, a director at Turkmengaz, these operations have significantly reduced the volume and intensity of the fire. “Whereas before, a massive glow from the blaze was visible for miles, today only faint combustion remains,” Luryeva stated. Independent satellite data confirmed the success, showing a threefold reduction in methane emissions from the site. Global Collaboration and Environmental Initiatives The containment of the Darvaza blaze is a result not just of national initiative but also of international collaboration. In March 2024, Turkmenistan partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to address methane emissions comprehensively. The project included advanced monitoring technologies and strategies to manage methane leaks across...

Methane Emissions

High Methane Emissions May Hinder Turkmenistan’s Gas Exports to Europe

High methane emissions could pose a significant obstacle to Turkmenistan’s entry into the European gas market, according to an updated report by the U.S. Department of Energy, published on February 6. The main findings of the study were summarized by Eurasia Review on February 19. The report, which examines oil and gas production in the Caspian region, notes that four countries, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, account for 3% of global energy production. Turkmenistan’s Gas Reserves and Export Ambitions According to the report, Turkmenistan ranks fifth worldwide in natural gas reserves, estimated at 400 trillion cubic feet in 2025. In 2023, the country set a record by producing 3.0 trillion cubic feet of dry natural gas, the highest level since official statistics began in 1992. Currently, Turkmenistan’s primary gas exports are directed to China, but Ashgabat is seeking to expand its market reach, including potential supply routes through Afghanistan. However, the U.S. Department of Energy warns that excessive methane emissions from Turkmenistan’s fields could complicate access to the European market via the Trans-Caspian pipeline. In terms of oil reserves, Turkmenistan holds a relatively modest 600 million barrels, with an average daily production of 275,000 barrels in 2024. Diversification Efforts and New Export Deals Meanwhile, Turkmenistan is taking steps to diversify its export destinations. Gas supplies to Turkey are set to begin on March 1. During a phone call on February 10, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov informed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that an agreement had been reached to transit gas through Iran under a swap supply arrangement with Turkish energy company BOTAŞ. Efforts to Reduce Methane Emissions Turkmenistan has also been actively engaging in international initiatives to curb methane emissions. On December 1, 2023, the country joined the Global Methane Pledge (GMP), an initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In November 2024, Bloomberg reported that the state-owned Turkmengaz plans to hire specialists to measure methane emissions more accurately and is preparing a tender for emission monitoring. That same month, the U.S. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) released satellite data showing that methane leakage from oil and gas fields in Turkmenistan, the U.S., and Venezuela is significantly higher than official ground-based measurements suggest.