Methane plume detected in Iran
On 5 Jan 2026, the Sentinel-5P/TROPOMI - ESA satellite saw methane escaping at about 29,000 kg/h from an oil & gas site.
Evidence packet
If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 696 tonnes of methane.
- Detected
- 5 Jan 2026 · 09:16 UTC
- Satellite
- Sentinel-5P/TROPOMI - ESA
- Sector
- Oil & gas
- Wind
- Plume drifting towards the SE · 0.6 m/s
- Coordinates
- 36.15, 59.99
Open in Google Maps (satellite) - UNEP plume ID
85d4d262-b783-4be0-a5c3-fa7cce333e73
Likely operator
National Iranian Oil Company Plausible
NIOC and its subsidiaries own and operate Iran's oil and gas upstream.
Status
UNEP has not recorded a notification for this plume.
Nobody has reported contacting the operator through Methane Leaks yet.
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Cite as: UNEP IMEO MARS plume 85d4d262-b783-4be0-a5c3-fa7cce333e73, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/85d4d262-b783-4be0-a5c3-fa7cce333e73), accessed 6 Oct 2026.