Turkmenistan plugs eight methane super-emitter leaks after UN alerts

Turkmenistan has begun repairing corroded pipes and faulty wells, stopping eight methane leaks, according to UN data. Methane traps 80 times more heat than CO2 and contributes to 25% of global heating. The country had three of the six worst leaks detected globally in the last six months.

The UN's satellite-based Methane Alert and Response System detected the Turkmenistan leaks and dispatched 192 notifications over the past year. The country replied to roughly one-fifth of those alerts with on-the-ground assessments, ultimately repairing corroded pipes, faulty wells, and malfunctioning flares at eight separate sites.

The broader problem remains considerable. Turkmenistan accounted for three of the six largest leaks identified worldwide in the last six months, and nine of the top fifty. For comparison, the United States received 138 alerts but neither responded nor completed any repairs, while Mexico answered all 23 of its alerts yet has not finished a single fix.