Over the past year, the UN system flagged 192 methane plumes across the nation. Turkmen authorities have since responded to approximately 40 cases, successfully sealing at least eight significant leaks in what UN officials described as an incredible first step. The state news agency, TDH, confirmed these repairs are part of a broader, mandatory modernization effort aimed at updating the country's energy complex to meet modern standards.
Turkmenistan Begins Plugging Major Methane Leaks
Satellite data from the UN’s Methane Alert and Response System identified Turkmenistan as one of the world’s primary methane emitters, with nine of the top 50 leaks globally detected in the country. Following international pressure, Ashgabat has begun repair work on its aging natural gas infrastructure to stem the flow.
This shift coincides with Ashgabat’s attempt to shed its reputation as a hermit kingdom and integrate into global trade networks like the Middle Corridor. By signing the Global Methane Pledge in 2024, the government committed to a 30 percent reduction in emissions by 2030. Alongside infrastructure upgrades, the country’s Academy of Sciences is testing a biological product designed to neutralize methane directly within the soil, signaling a rare, if cautious, engagement with international environmental benchmarks.
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