{"id":41510,"date":"2022-03-10T12:06:22","date_gmt":"2022-03-10T11:06:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/?p=41510"},"modified":"2023-11-02T19:24:35","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T18:24:35","slug":"turkmenistan-the-unknown-mega-polluter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/turkmenistan\/turkmenistan-the-unknown-mega-polluter\/","title":{"rendered":"Turkmenistan, the unknown mega-polluter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>DECODING. Turkmenistan ranks fifth in methane emissions in the world, after Russia and the United States. This does not come as good news for Central Asia\u2019s most secretive country \u2013 and is also out of all proportion for the country with such a small population.<\/strong><strong>These emissions derive mostly from gas extraction, Turkmenistan&#8217;s primary source of wealth. The culture of secrecy and outdated infrastructure leave them to be observed through satellite. With COP26 in full swing, the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan has promised to reduce methane emissions, which are 28 times more polluting than CO2 emissions. Here is an explanation of this delicate Turkmenistan situation.<\/strong><strong>This article was originally published on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/novastan.org\/fr\/decryptage\/le-turkmenistan-ce-mega-pollueur-inconnu\/\">Novastan\u2019s French website<\/a> on 8 November 2021.<\/strong>\n\nThe International Energy Agency\u2019s report does not cast a positive light on Turkmenistan, the fifth-largest emitter of methane in the world. In its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iea.org\/reports\/methane-tracker-2021\">Methane Tracker<\/a>, the IEA makes it clear that Turkmenistan emits more methane than China. As Glasgow hosts the COP26 until November 12, this is an unenviable position.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hp-newsletter col-span-3 lg:col-span-1 flex flex-col bg-primary-100 border-t-8 border-secondary-500 rounded-lg justify-center items-center lg:items-stretch px-6 py-6 gap-4 box-border\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"flex\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"enveloppe\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"far fa-envelope text-5xl text-secondary-300\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"formulaire_nl\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"font-bold text-xl block\">The whole of Central Asia in your inbox\n<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSubscribe to our free weekly newsletter\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<form class=\"flex w-3\/4 lg:w-full\" action=\"https:\/\/us4.list-manage.com\/subscribe?u=6a15a2256d412b041fdec39e8&amp;id=d479236523\" method=\"post\" id=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" name=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" class=\"validate\" target=\"_blank\" novalidate=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input class=\"flex-grow py-2 px-3 border border-primary-300 rounded-l\" type=\"email\" placeholder=\"Email\" name=\"EMAIL\" id=\"mce-EMAIL\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"bg-secondary-500 py-2 px-3 text-white rounded-r-md border border-secondary-500\" type=\"submit\" value=\"\" name=\"subscribe\">Register<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/form>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"underline text-secondary-700\">Click here for the latest issue\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- newsletter -->\n\t\t\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ashgabat\">Ashgabat\u2019s<\/a> poor ranking was highlighted by the Bloomberg agency on 19 October. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/features\/top-methane-gas-leak-problem-2021\/\">The article<\/a> named Turkmenistan as the world\u2019s third-highest methane emitter, right after Russia and the United States. Since then, this ranking was updated, although it was officially published in January 2021. Novastan requested a comment from the agency, but Bloomberg did not respond.\n\nWhether it be third or fifth, Turkmenistan emits slightly more methane than China (with its 1.4 billion people), despite having only <a href=\"https:\/\/rus.azathabar.com\/a\/turkmenistan-in-state-of-depopulation-with-under-three-million-people\/31338392.html\">2.7 million inhabitants<\/a> \u2013 or 6.2 million according to official statistics. Methane is especially harmful to the environment, as it fuels global warming 28 times faster than CO2.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Ageing gas infrastructure<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>\nTo explain this phenomenon, one must turn to the gas industry. Turkmenistan possesses the fourth-largest reserves of blue gold in the world. It extracts<a href=\"https:\/\/www.trade.gov\/country-commercial-guides\/turkmenistan-oil-gas\"> next to 60 billion cubic meters<\/a> per year, <a href=\"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/turkmenistan\/turkmenistan-became-chinas-first-gas-supplier\/\">with China as its main buyer<\/a>. As Turkmenistan\u2019s main resource, gas is intensively exploited.\n\nThe problem is that \u201c<em>most of the equipment is dilapidated, and leaks occur on a regular basis in the networks and deposits,<\/em>\u201d a reliable source states. \u201c<em>The government focuses on new developments, but companies lack skills<\/em>\u201d.\n\nMassive methane leaks from these infrastructures have been detected over the past few years. In <a href=\"https:\/\/agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1029\/2019GL083798\">2019<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kayrros.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/201014_Kayrros-Methane-Emissions-PR.pdf\">2020<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2021-02-12\/new-climate-satellite-spotted-giant-methane-leak-as-it-happened\">February 2021<\/a>, companies specialized in satellite data analysis warned of these leaks. \u201c<em>What is certain is that these emissions do not stem from the \u2018regular\u2019 gas or oil production process. Methane leaks can be avoided<\/em>\u201d, says Antoine Halff, lead analyst at Kayrros, a French company that participated in revealing the problem.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>General lack of transparency<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\u201c<em>Generally speaking, large emissions can be caused by two things: either lax attitude towards<\/em><em> industrial practices, bolstered by loose regulations, which means methane is intentionally released into the atmosphere during maintenance operations on pipelines, or equipment problems, such as poor or unsuitable infrastructure that leaks a lot of gas<\/em>\u201d Antoine Halff further explains. The second option probably applies to the Turkmen case.\n\n<strong>Read more: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/turkmenistan\/troubled-waters-turkmenistan-environmental-policy\/\"><strong>Troubled waters: Turkmenistan\u2019s environmental policy<\/strong><\/a>\n\nInformation from Turkmenistan <a href=\"https:\/\/novastan.org\/fr\/decryptage\/pourquoi-le-turkmenistan-est-il-la-cible-de-tant-de-fake-news\/\">is scarce<\/a>, making it hard to say for sure. The authorities have never reacted to the leaks detected by Karryos or GHGSat, a Canadian firm also specializing in this sector. \u201c<em>It takes a lot of effort to determine the causes for Turkmenistan\u2019s emissions, and whether they are intentional. Few public documents give information about the regulation of the hydrocarbon sector, and it is virtually impossible to know whether reports of incidents or leaks have been filed \u2013 at least, from a foreign perspective<\/em>\u201d, says Itziar Irakulis Loitxate, a scientist specializing in remote detection at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain).\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Satellites come to the rescue<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>\nIn the face of this silence, satellite observation, among a few other things, can help determine the amount of methane emitted into atmosphere \u2013 and thereby make it possible for the IEA to rank countries. \u201c<em>The so-called &#8216;monitoring&#8217; satellites make it possible to capture large emissions, which are occasional and therefore cannot be observed by sporadic checks<\/em>\u201d,&nbsp; Antoine Halff says. \u201c<em>Furthermore, such observations are totally independent, do not require operators\u2019 approval, and can better quantify large leaks than any other technology, especially ground-based sensors<\/em>\u201d.\n\n\u201c<em>On the other hand, it should be kept in mind that satellites can only see large emissions provided that the weather is not cloudy<\/em>\u201d, Itziar Irakulis Loitxate states. \u201c<em>Huge progress is being made in pushing the limits of emission detection. Several promising satellite missions are expected in the next few years, specializing in the precise detection of greenhouse gases<\/em>\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Turkmen authorities promise to reduce methane emissions<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>\nAs it turns out, the Turkmen authorities have reacted to Bloomberg\u2019s article. On November 4, Deputy Prime Minister \u2013 and President <a href=\"https:\/\/fr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gurbanguly_Berdimuhamedow\">Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov<\/a>\u2019s son \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Serdar_Berdimuhamedow\">Serdar Berdimuhamedov<\/a> said he was paying great attention to reducing methane emissions, the official press agency <a href=\"https:\/\/turkmenistan.gov.tm\/ru\/post\/58347\/poziciya-turkmenistana-ozvuchena-na-klimaticheskom-forume-v-glazgo\">TDH<\/a> says. Independent media <a href=\"https:\/\/turkmen.news\/turkmenistan-serdar-metan\/\">Turkmen.news<\/a> reports that he also flew to Glasgow in order to make sure his position was heard by the members of the COP26.\n\nSerdar Berdimuhamedov seems to <a href=\"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/turkmenistan\/turkmenistan-president-son-deputy-prime-minister\/?noredirect=en-GB\">get ready to follow his father\u2019s steps<\/a>, which makes it a loaded statement. \u201c<em>Once identified, large methane emissions can be avoided easily.&nbsp; The technology already exists, and its costs are negligible, if not negative, considering the benefits<\/em>\u201d, Antoine Halff claims.\n\n\u201c<em>Turkmenistan will have to work on upgrading old facilities and improving the skills and the sense of responsibility of technicians<\/em>\u201d, a local source tells Novastan. According to Itziar Irakulis Loitxate, \u201c<em>Turkmenistan can drastically reduce its emissions, but in order for that to happen, money should be invested in maintenance and stricter control over infrastructure<\/em>\u201d.&nbsp;In her opinion, Turkmenistan has the means to do so \u2013 \u201c<em>only time will tell how fast<\/em> [it will be implemented]\u201d.\n\n&nbsp;\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><strong>Etienne Combier<\/strong>\n<strong>Editor-in-Chief of Novastan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><strong>Translated <a href=\"https:\/\/novastan.org\/fr\/decryptage\/le-turkmenistan-ce-mega-pollueur-inconnu\/\">from French<\/a> by Andre\u00ef Fedorovsky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><strong>Edited by Anna Wilhelmi<\/strong>\n<p><em>For more news and analysis from Central Asia, follow us on <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/Novastan_Eng\">Twitter<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Novastan.org\/\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/telegram.me\/novastan\">Telegram<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/fondation-novastan\/\">Linkedin<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/novastanorg\/\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/em><\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DECODING. Turkmenistan ranks fifth in methane emissions in the world, after Russia and the United States. This does not come as good news for Central Asia\u2019s most secretive country \u2013 and is also out of all proportion for the country with such a small population.These emissions derive mostly from gas extraction, Turkmenistan&#8217;s primary source of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":41516,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[4529,3998,780,467],"coauthors":[81],"class_list":["post-41510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-turkmenistan","tag-emissions","tag-energy","tag-pollution","tag-turkmenistan"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41510"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41510\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45765,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41510\/revisions\/45765"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41510"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=41510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}