Turkmenistan Starts Plugging Eight Massive Methane Leaks Detected by UN Satellite Monitoring

Turkmenistan has begun repairing the massive methane leaks emanating from its aging oil and gas infrastructure, according to recent UN data, marking a notable breakthrough.

Methane, also called natural or fossil gas, is a potent greenhouse gas that traps about 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide and accounts for roughly 25 % of current global warming. Because methane dissipates far more quickly than CO2, addressing leaks can yield rapid climate benefits, leading some experts to describe mitigation as an “emergency brake” on warming.

In 2023, The Guardian reported that Turkmenistan was the world’s worst offender for methane mega‑leaks. Sources inside the country indicated that this external scrutiny acted as a crucial catalyst, prompting the previously secretive government to engage with foreign partners.

A super‑emitter leak can discharge tonnes of methane per hour from a single valve or pipeline, producing a climate impact comparable to the emissions from a million sport‑utility vehicles or an entire coal‑fired power plant.

To date, Turkmenistan has sealed eight such leaks by repairing corroded pipes, faulty wells and malfunctioning flares. While the UN describes the progress as an “incredible first step,” officials acknowledge that substantially more work remains.

The UN Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) issued 192 alerts concerning methane plumes over Turkmenistan during the past year. In the last six months, the country accounted for three of the six worst leaks globally identified by MARS and nine of the top 50.

Turkmenistan responded to roughly 20 % of the alerts by providing on‑site information and outlining repair plans. By contrast, the United States received the second‑largest number of alerts—138—but has not responded to any or completed any repairs. Other nations that have not responded to alerts include Iran, Russia and China.

The single worst leak recorded by MARS was an extraordinary offshore emission in Mexico, reaching 37 tonnes per hour—equivalent to the output of more than seven million SUVs. Although Mexico answered all 23 alerts it received during the year, the leak has not yet been fully capped.

Meghan Demeter, programme manager for MARS, said the Turkmen fixes demonstrate the effectiveness of satellite‑driven mitigation. She noted that while the eight resolved cases represent documented progress, they constitute only a small fraction of the overall emissions problem. Ongoing communication and an improving response rate suggest steady momentum.

In March 2023, The Guardian disclosed that Turkmenistan possessed the world’s highest number of super‑emitting methane leaks. The publication further revealed that methane emissions from the country’s two primary fossil‑fuel fields alone generated more warming in 2022 than the United Kingdom’s total carbon‑dioxide output, prompting experts to label the scale “mind‑boggling” and “infuriating”.

The disclosures sparked domestic backlash, compelling the Turkmen government to initiate dialogue with the United Nations, the European Union, and other international entities aimed at halting the leaks. In December 2023, Turkmenistan signed the global methane pledge, two years after the initiative was launched.

Despite holding extensive natural‑gas reserves and serving as a major supplier to China, Turkmenistan previously neglected leak control because of the sheer volume of gas in production. The first repair was completed in November 2024 after a faulty well was fixed, followed by a corroded‑pipeline repair in March. Requests for comment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and state enterprises Turkmenoil and Turkmengaz remain unanswered.

Recent MARS data indicates that Kazakhstan, another former Soviet republic with aging oil and gas assets, has also halted eight leaks. However, the overall alert count for Kazakhstan remains lower, with 38 alerts reported over the past year.

Across all regions, MARS alerts have facilitated the sealing of 43 leaks to date. Many closures were straightforward on‑site interventions, while others required extensive planning and financing. One notable example is a long‑standing leak in Algeria, which had persisted for nearly four decades due to a defective flare. Flares convert uncontrolled methane into carbon dioxide, a substantially less potent greenhouse gas.

During the prior U.S. administration led by President Joe Biden, cooperation with MARS resulted in the repair of a small leak in New Mexico in 2024 after a pressure‑safety valve was replaced. This collaborative effort ceased under the second term of President Donald Trump, who dismissed climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world” during a UN address.

Mexico, Brazil and Argentina have achieved 100 % response rates to MARS alerts, while Libya and Azerbaijan maintain high response levels.

“Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan host some of the world’s most significant methane hotspots, and their recent responses to satellite alerts constitute welcome progress in the global push to curb methane pollution,” said Dan Grossman, vice‑president of the Environmental Defense Fund.

“Stemming methane emissions from oil and gas operations offers the fastest and most cost‑effective route to reduce climate pollution that is currently available,” he added. “Alerts only matter if they trigger action, and governments and industry must improve their performance.”

UN Secretary‑General António Guterres has urged all nations to achieve an 80 % response rate to MARS alerts.

Demeter said, “We are significantly expanding the technical assistance, knowledge sharing and funding opportunities we can provide to countries. Partnerships are growing, and many actors are requesting support for direct mitigation projects.”

MARS leverages artificial intelligence to sift through data from more than a dozen satellites, flagging potential leaks. Each detection undergoes a two‑tiered review by analysts before being forwarded to the responsible government or company. When a government reports on‑site information or an intent to act, the response is recorded. If a leak is declared fixed, MARS continuously monitors the site until satellite readings confirm the emissions have ceased, at which point the case is marked as resolved.

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