U.S.-Kazakhstan Joint Statement on Accelerating Methane Mitigation to Achieve the Global Methane Pledge

Kazakhstan and United States issued a joint statement on actions they will undertake in the next two years to accelerate the development and implementation of policies and projects to rapidly reduce methane emissions in Kazakhstan, particularly from the fossil energy sector. Actions will include:

• Cooperating on best practices for coal mine methane reductions, including degasification of coal seams, destruction of ventilation air methane, and the capture and utilisation of coal mine methane. 
• Cooperation to implement LDAR and eliminate routine venting of methane across the oil and gas sector, including by supporting utilising satellite and other technologies, best practice exchanges, advancing pilot projects, and developing national standards.
• Support utilization of satellite and other technologies to monitor and mitigate methane emissions, with particular focus on preventing and rapidly responding to super-emitter events.
• Support implementation of regular leak detection and repair in KazMunaiGaz and its subsidiaries and dependent organizations. 
• Supporting exchanges of best practices and encouraging development of projects to identify, repair, and prevent leaks and venting in the gas transmission, distribution, and storage system. Advancing pilot projects for methane leakage and venting control at Kazakhstan’s oil and gas facilities, with the goal of implementing best practices for methane measurement and reduction nationwide.
• Support improvements in national methane inventories across sectors.
• Encourage private sector development of and investment in methane reduction projects.
• Identify and support sources of financing for methane reduction projects, with the United States working with partners to mobilise investments to support achieving full methane mitigation potential in Kazakhstan's oil and gas sector.

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