‘Breakthrough’ as Turkmenistan starts fixing ‘mindboggling’ methane mega-leaks
Summary
Turkmenistan has begun repairing large methane leaks from its old oil and gas facilities, according to recent United Nations data. Methane is a strong greenhouse gas that heats the planet much faster than carbon dioxide, so fixing these leaks helps reduce global warming quickly.Key Facts
- Methane traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide and causes about 25% of global warming.
- Turkmenistan was identified in 2023 as the country with the worst large methane leaks.
- The country has fixed eight major leaks by repairing pipes, wells, and flares.
- The UN’s Methane Alert and Response System (Mars) sent 192 methane leak alerts to Turkmenistan last year.
- Turkmenistan responded with information and repair plans to about 20% of the alerts.
- The United States received 138 alerts but did not respond or fix any leaks last year.
- A huge leak in Mexico’s offshore oil industry released 37 tonnes of methane per hour, but Mexico has not yet fixed it.
- Turkmenistan joined the global methane pledge in December 2023 to reduce emissions.
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