BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. State Concern
Turkmengaz has received equipment for detecting methane emissions
under the European Union’s Green Development in Turkmenistan
project, implemented by the German Agency for International
Cooperation (GIZ).


According to the press service of the Turkmen government, the
handover ceremony took place on October 19 at the Research
Institute of Natural Gas under Turkmengaz.


The equipment includes a portable optical gas imaging (OGI)
camera manufactured by Spain’s SENSIA Solutions. Using infrared
technology, the camera can detect gas emissions, including methane,
in real time.


The equipment was provided as part of efforts to introduce a
leak detection and repair (LDAR) system. A practical training
session was also organized for Turkmengaz specialists on operating
the equipment and applying LDAR technologies, including laser
scanners and thermal imaging cameras.







The ceremony was attended by German Ambassador to Turkmenistan
Petra Dachtler, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to
Turkmenistan Maciej Madaliński, and Research Institute Director
Bayrammyrat Pirniyazov.


Representatives of the parties formalized the equipment handover
by signing the relevant protocol. Speaking at the ceremony,
Dachtler emphasized the importance of reducing methane emissions
from oil and gas production to protect the climate. Turkmenistan is
a party to the Paris Agreement and the Global Methane Pledge, which
aims to reduce emissions of this greenhouse gas.


The “EU for a Green Turkmenistan: Policy Dialogue and
Climate Action 2024–2028” project (sometimes referred to as Green
Development in Turkmenistan), implemented by GIZ and co-financed by
the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office, has a
budget of approximately €4.77 million (with additional EU funding
of €2 million later allocated). It forms part of the Green Central
Asia II programme and the Team Europe initiative on water, energy
and climate change. Key partners include Turkmenistan’s Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Environmental
Protection, and State Concern Turkmengaz. The project focuses on
strengthening policy dialogue, promoting renewable energy and
energy efficiency, reducing methane and greenhouse gas emissions
(including through LDAR systems and pilot technologies), supporting
climate adaptation measures, building institutional and human
capacity, and aligning with Turkmenistan’s commitments under the
Paris Agreement and the Global Methane Pledge. It runs until March
2028 and includes pilot activities such as methane leak detection
equipment, solar-powered systems, and capacity-building programmes
for specialists.