Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company (SOCAR) has developed an artificial intelligence programme to study methane emissions and identify potential risks, Mustafa Gurbanli, head of SOCAR’s Department for Environmental Disclosure and Green Initiatives, said.
Speaking on September 7 at a session titled “Accelerating methane reduction: from detection to action” during Baku Climate Action Week 2026, Gurbanli said SOCAR had developed its own “Methane AI” programme. The system allows data to be uploaded to prioritise emissions and forecast potential risks," Caliber.Az reports.
Gurbanli said SOCAR had presented the programme to regional partners, where it had attracted considerable interest. The company is now working with its partners on further developing and jointly using the system, he added.
He also said SOCAR, together with regional partners from Central Asia, had established the Caspian Methane Reduction Accelerator. The initiative has enabled the organisation of several events focused on sharing best practices and discussing issues affecting companies in the region.
According to Gurbanli, these issues include both global challenges and matters specific to the region, while participation in the accelerator provides an opportunity to address them collectively.
Speaking about field survey campaigns, Gurbanli highlighted SOCAR’s work at Neft Dashlari, where the company, working with local and international teams and consultants, identified more than 1,000 leaks and successfully addressed them.
By Sabina Mammadli
