Article:
Turkmenistan, a central Asian country, has recently been in the news due to its decision to tackle a persisting environmental problem. The issue at hand involves a massive natural gas eruption that has been ablaze for half a century, earning it the ominous nickname ‘Gateway to Hell’. This particular case highlights the broader problem of methane leaks in the country, which stand as a significant environmental and health concern.
The Startling Statistics of Methane Leakages
Methane leakages have put Turkmenistan at the forefront of environmental concerns. Of the 50 most severe onshore oil and gas operation methane leaks recorded in 2019, 31 were noted in this country. The environmental impact of just one of these leakages is comparable to the yearly emissions produced by all cars in the US state of Arizona.
Dangerous Consequences of Methane Leaks
Methane, the prime component of natural gas, is the leading contributor to the formation of ground-level ozone. It’s a hazardous air pollutant and a potent greenhouse gas. Exposure to it claims about a million lives prematurely every year. Moreover, methane is a much more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, approximately 80 times more potent over a span of 20 years.
The Centre of Attraction: The Darvaza Gas Crater
Lying in the heart of the Karakum desert, 260 kilometres from Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat, the Darvaza gas crater has been alight for five decades. Interestingly, this burning pit has become a major tourist magnet for the country, leading the president to officially rechristen it the ‘Shining of Karakum’ in 2018.
The Origin Story of the Crater
The precise details of the crater’s creation are shrouded in uncertainty. However, it is generally agreed that it was formed in 1971 during a Soviet drilling mishap. Soviet geologists were prospecting for oil in the Karakum desert when they accidentally punctured a natural gas pocket. This accident caused the land to cave in, forming three immense sinkholes. Sinkholes are depressions in the ground caused by the dissolution of underlying limestone bedrock by groundwater. Conflicting local accounts suggest that the crater might have been formed in the 1960s but lit only in the 1980s.
Reason for Extinguishing the ‘Gateway to Hell’
The massive flames of the Darvaza crater pose detrimental effects on both the environment and public health. In addition to these health hazards, the burning natural gas represents a loss of valuable resources that could otherwise yield significant profits and be utilised to enhance the wellbeing of the population. Furthermore, the persistent fire impedes the industrial development of the subsoil riches amidst the central Karakum.
This article is based on sources from IE.
