ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 31. Kazakhstan joins global efforts to regulate methane emissions with a new action plan at an international seminar, Trend reports.
The first two-day advisory seminar on methane emissions regulation—one of the most powerful greenhouse gases—is being held in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana.
The event was organized by the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with the support of the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Clean Action Task Force (CATF) and other partners, under the leadership of the Presidential Advisor - Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan for International Environmental Cooperation Zulfiya Suleimenova. The seminar was attended by representatives of the government, business and international organizations.
"Kazakhstan has already reduced gas flaring by more than 70 percent thanks to the introduction of a ban on routine gas flaring in 2012. Now, we are ready to eliminate methane leaks and venting. This is not just about ecology—it is about sustainable development. We are losing a valuable resource that could be used to generate electricity, reduce dependence on gas imports, and even increase export potential," emphasized Zulfiya Suleimenova.
"To rationally use gas resources and reduce environmental impact, a lot of work has been done to improve and develop the legislative framework, which has increased the accountability of subsoil users in addressing raw gas disposal. This approach not only reduces methane emissions but also allows for more efficient use of valuable energy resources," added Kazakhstan's Deputy Minister of Energy, Yerlan Akkenzhenov.
The main outcome of the seminar is the development of a "roadmap" for regulating methane emissions in the oil, gas, and coal sectors.
To note, Kazakhstan joined the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) in 2023, with the goal of reducing emissions, attracting investments, and increasing the efficiency of the energy sector.
