Under pressure from the world community, Turkmenistan is forced to solve the problem of exorbitant greenhouse gas emissions taking place in this Central Asian republic. In other words, the highest level of atmospheric pollution by methane is observed there. And, as you know, the so-called greenhouse effect causes global warming.
Currently, CH4 hydrocarbon emissions constitute a quarter of the factors on which the Earth’s climate change depends. According to scientists, eliminating leaks directly on the fields is the best way to reduce harmful gas pollution and environmental poisoning.
The Orient is tricky business
Reminder: the country’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow in 2021 (COP-26) noted, they say, that Turkmenistan is reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the introduction cutting-edge technologies in all sectors of the economy, with a primary focus on methane. It now declares its intention to implement a program to reduce methane leaks in the national oil and gas industry. If the environmental initiatives are successful, it will be a major step in solving the climate crisis. This time, Serdar Gurbangulyevich responsibly assured that his country will vigorously join both the regional and global nature protection process. But let me ask you, what has changed in this direction at the request of Ashgabat in a year and a half? So far, nothing really.
One way or another, a number of relevant activities involve joining the implementation of universal obligations to reduce emissions globally by 30% by 2030. The inter-ministerial government commission, specially incorporated on June 2, will oversee this part. And on June 10, during a meeting of the Turkmen Council of Ministers, the Head of State approved the methane roadmap for 2023-2024. By the way, it is characteristic that the decree on the creation of the commission was signed by Berdimuhamedov a few days after the conversation with the American special envoy for climate change John Kerry. These included financial support for prevention activities and expert assistance.
The fact is that the West is well aware that in the Asian republics of the former USSR, due to the prevailing mentality, it is not customary to spend money on improving the environmental situation. Although, in view of the excess profits from the gas transactions of the same Turkmenistan, God himself ordered to pay out for such needs. Thus, this country shares the leadership with Australia in sales of hydrocarbon raw materials to the world’s largest consumer – China. But, if you don’t send investments to Ashgabat from outside (and for free), no government will take care of the well-being of the environment. Here is such a default blackmail, such a struggle with our own leaks.
I have to keep the whole world
The concept proposed by the President provides for the modernization of national legislation, a partnership with foreign experts to create innovative projects, as well as cooperation with the International Observatory of Methane Emissions Imeo. However, its leader Manfredi Caltagirone stressed in this regard: “After such messages, real work to reduce emissions should follow. Operators in Turkmenistan are required to measure at each of their facilities, provide transparent reporting and effectively mitigate the consequences of exploitation.
Arabs from the Middle East have some influence on the rulers of Turkmenistan, with whom close ties are maintained and there is common experience in the production of gas and oil. In addition, the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-28) will be held in the United Arab Emirates in November-December this year. The last visit to Ashgabat by the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, took place in February. The distinguished guest met with Berdimuhamedov to discuss bilateral partnerships “in vital sectors such as oil and gas”. It should be remembered that Abu Dhabi is one of the main participants in the global methane program. It is therefore not surprising that the Turkmens ended up being more accommodating in terms of accomplishing the task before them.
It’s time to stop this bad tradition.
The fact that Turkmenistan has a barbaric attitude towards environmental issues has been known since Soviet times. For example, in 1971, to get rid of an uncontrolled gas fountain in the Darvaza crater, it was set on fire; the torch is still burning. At first, the authorities treated it as a kind of exotic and touristic desert (they even established the protected area “The Shining of the Karakum Desert”). At the beginning of last year, it was decided to put out the mentioned giant fire, because the “continuous burning of gas harms the environment and the health of people living nearby, and natural gas, from from which you can make large profits, is spent thoughtlessly.” However, things are still there, although European analysts say such problems are easily eliminated. And this happens against the background of the fact that in 2022 Turkmenistan again became the “champion” of accidental technological CH4 leaks.
The largest of these caused a negative effect equivalent to the impact of the volume of exhaust emissions from 67 million cars.
According to The Guardian, based on an analysis of satellite data, the gratuitous release of methane from just two key Turkmen wells into the atmosphere caused more damage in 2022 than, say, all of the UK’s volatile hydrocarbons. United. The western Khazar field on the Caspian Sea coast leaked 2.6 million tonnes of CH4. In the eastern Galkynysh field on the Amu Darya River, 1.8 million tonnes escaped. In addition, the two fields emitted a total of 366 million tonnes of CO2.
Observers say the increased frequency of natural broadcasts has already “come into conflict with Turkmenistan’s legislation”. All the problems are caused by the deterioration, the unsatisfactory maintenance of communications and infrastructures in general, as well as by the illegal discharge of associated gases into the atmosphere, produced with oil. However, access to information on the ground in a closed society as special as that of the Turkmens is very difficult.(/left)
Author: Yaroslav Dymchuk
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