Satellite Data Exposes World's Worst Methane Mega-Leaks Driving Climate Crisis
An exclusive analysis of satellite data has revealed the world's worst mega-leaks of methane in 2025, with super-polluting plumes from oil and gas facilities having a colossal heating impact on the climate. The assessment, conducted by the Stop Methane Project at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), found dozens of mega-leaks, each equivalent in global heating to a coal-fired power station. Researchers described the lack of action as "maddening," noting that fixing these leaks can be simple and even free, as captured methane can be sold as natural gas.
Turkmenistan Dominates List of Top Methane Leaks
The top 25 list of mega-leaks is dominated by facilities in Turkmenistan, a secretive and authoritarian state where methane emissions have previously been labeled "mind-boggling." A satellite image captured a methane plume in Esenguly, Turkmenistan, with an estimated leakage rate of 18 tonnes per hour. Other countries with significant leaks include the United States, where the largest detected plume in Texas leaked 5.5 tonnes per hour, equivalent to running about a million fuel-guzzling SUVs. Venezuela and Iran also had multiple mega-leaks from state-owned facilities.
Landfill Sites Contribute to Methane Surge
The Stop Methane Project also analyzed super-polluting plumes from landfill sites worldwide, where poorly managed rotting organic waste releases huge volumes of methane. The worst sites ranged from Turkey and Algeria to Malaysia and the United States. Methane emissions currently cause 25% of global heating, with a "scary" surge since 2007 that risks triggering catastrophic climate tipping points. However, cutting methane emissions acts as a rapid "emergency brake" due to the gas's quicker natural removal from the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide.
Call for Public and Political Pressure
Cara Horowitz at UCLA emphasized the frustration, stating, "It is really maddening. These sites result from poor maintenance – upgrading infrastructure a little bit could solve a really important part of the problem." The project aims to increase visibility and public pressure for action. Unlike previous lists, it investigated probable operators, such as Energy Transfer in Texas, though the company did not respond to requests for comment. Horowitz added, "Methane was the stealth pollutant gas for many years, but we can now see these tremendously powerful emissions using satellites as a wake-up call."
Methodology and Global Implications
The analysis, based on data from Carbon Mapper, identified 4,400 significant plumes in 2025, each emitting over 100kg/hour, equivalent to running 20,000 SUVs. In the US, nine of the ten worst leaks were in Texas. Despite claims by Turkmen officials in October that leaks had been reduced, the new analysis shows substantial mega-leaks remain. Horowitz noted that European buyers should be cautious as the EU phases in strict limits on methane leaks from imported gas. Mary Nichols, former chair of the California Air Resources Board, highlighted that methane is a powerful climate villain, relatively cheap and easy to control, with satellite imagery aiding accountability efforts.
The Guardian contacted various state companies in Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Iran but received no replies. The methodology involved using satellite data to measure plumes, averaging leak rates over multiple detections, with the top 25 oil and gas plumes detected an average of seven times and landfill plumes 11 times.
