Kazakhstan's KazMunayGas company and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) have discussed new opportunities for joint initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating decarbonization efforts.

The discussions took place on the sidelines of the Regional Environmental Summit (RES 2026) in Astana, Kazakhstan, where KazMunayGas representatives held a series of meetings focused on advancing the company’s climate strategy, The Caspian Post reports via KazMunayGas.

As part of the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0), KazMunayGas has been implementing international methane monitoring and reporting standards for three consecutive years.

During a roundtable session, Head of KazMunayGas Decarbonization and Ecology Department Ulzhan Akhmetova outlined significant progress in emissions reduction. She noted that gas flaring dropped from over 300 million cubic meters in 2017 to 39 million cubic meters in 2025 - an 86% decrease.

She also highlighted that advanced monitoring methods, including aerial surveys, have helped several KazMunayGas facilities achieve the highest reporting tiers under the OGMP 2.0 framework.

In separate talks with SOCAR, both sides explored knowledge exchange on greenhouse gas reduction and potential joint decarbonization projects. Additional meetings were held with international organizations including Boston Consulting Group, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Clean Air Task Force (CATF), focusing on emissions management and emerging environmental technologies.

Akhmetova also underscored the role of the Caspian Methane Emissions Reduction Accelerator - a regional platform bringing together KazMunayGas, SOCAR, and Uzbekneftegaz - aimed at fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and investment in green energy initiatives.

KazMunayGas reaffirmed its commitment to expanding innovative technologies, modernizing infrastructure, and strengthening international partnerships to support long-term emission reductions and a more sustainable energy transition.