UNECE is supporting Turkmenistan to strengthen efforts on its sustainable energy transition and to deliver methane emissions reductions from the energy sector, in alignment with global climate objectives.
This was the focus of discussions this week between Mr. Dario Liguti, Director of the Sustainable Energy Division of UNECE, and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.
A central point of discussion was Turkmenistan’s Global Energy Security and Sustainability Cooperation Alliance, an initiative launched by the Government of Turkmenistan at the World Government Summit and reaffirmed at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. This initiative seeks to create a global framework for cooperation on energy security that emphasizes the transition to sustainable energy systems. The Alliance aims to pool resources, expertise, and innovative technologies to tackle energy resilience, enhance energy access, and ensure environmental sustainability. UNECE expressed its support for this initiative and its readiness to foster collaboration across governments, international organizations, and the private sector in addressing the growing challenges of energy transition.
The meeting also explored concrete steps for enhancing Turkmenistan’s renewable energy capacity, with a particular focus on solar and wind energy projects. Turkmenistan, with its vast natural resources and favorable climate, has significant untapped potential for renewable energy development. UNECE will provide technical expertise to assist in the planning, development, and implementation of large-scale renewable energy projects, focusing on solar and wind technologies. These projects will be supported by innovative energy storage and transmission solutions, enabling Turkmenistan to overcome the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources and ensuring a stable and reliable energy supply. UNECE’s collaboration with Turkmenistan in this area is expected to play a key role in advancing the country’s energy diversification strategy, contributing to both national energy security and the achievement of its long-term climate goals.
In addition to expanding renewable energy, the meeting emphasized the importance of methane emissions management, a critical issue for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Addressing methane emissions from energy production is a priority for Turkmenistan, where UNECE can help deliver reductions. UNECE will support Turkmenistan in developing effective methane monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems, as well as strategies for reducing methane emissions from its energy sector, particularly from oil and gas operations. These efforts align with global initiatives such as the Global Methane Pledge and UNECE’s work on methane management in the energy sector.
UNECE’s technical assistance can help Turkmenistan to modernize its energy infrastructure, improve energy efficiency, and reduce its environmental impact, harnessing innovation and technology transfer in accelerating the deployment of clean energy technologies, together with capacity building support.