Kazakhstan’s Methane Crisis:
In 2023, a significant methane leak occurred at a remote well in Kazakhstan, making it one of the largest on record, as indicated by a new analysis shared with BBC Verify. The blowout released approximately 127,000 tonnes of methane over six months, causing a continuous fire. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s calculations, this environmental impact is equivalent to the emissions from more than 717,000 petrol cars in a year. The company owning the well, Buzachi Neft, disputes the claim of a substantial methane leak, asserting that only a negligible amount of gas was present in the well, and any leaked methane would have burned upon release.
The methane leak, initially investigated by French geoanalytics firm Kayrros and subsequently verified by other institutions, began on June 9, 2023, during drilling in the Mangistau region of Kazakhstan. Satellite data revealed elevated methane concentrations on 115 occasions between June and December. This methane leak is considered one of the most significant ever recorded, second only to the Nord Stream sabotage in September 2022, which released up to 230,000 tonnes of methane into the atmosphere.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes substantially to global warming, with estimates suggesting it is responsible for about 30% of global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution. Despite Buzachi Neft’s denial of the extent of the methane leak, an official probe found the company failed to supervise the drilling of the well appropriately. Kazakhstan, facing potential risks of additional methane leaks from gas pipelines, pledged at COP28 to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030, joining the Global Methane Pledge, a voluntary agreement involving more than 150 countries.
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