Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 12 Jan 2026

Methane plume detected in Turkmenistan

On 12 Jan 2026, the Sentinel-5P/TROPOMI - ESA satellite saw methane escaping at about 99,000 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

Satellite map of methane plume locations in Turkmenistan
Map imagery © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap © MaxarOpen the interactive map →

99,000 kg/h
± 49,000 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 2,376 tonnes of methane.

Detected
12 Jan 2026 · 08:46 UTC
Satellite
Sentinel-5P/TROPOMI - ESA
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the NW · 3.1 m/s
Coordinates
37.44, 60.37
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
890938d2-80bf-4dd3-8061-358eb90860a9

Likely operator

Turkmengaz Plausible

State concern Türkmengaz operates the main gas fields (Dowletabat, Galkynyş, Shatlyk) and the transmission system.

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 890938d2-80bf-4dd3-8061-358eb90860a9, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/890938d2-80bf-4dd3-8061-358eb90860a9), accessed 6 Oct 2026.