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Kazakhstan –Developing and Implementing Methane Regulations for the Oil and Gas, and Coal Sectors

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Kazakhstan is enhancing its national response to methane and other short‑lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) as part of its commitments under the Global Methane Pledge and its updated climate strategies. Through the Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme (FFRP), the Government of Kazakhstan is receiving structured assistance to strengthen methane policy, improve oversight systems, and broaden institutional capabilities.
This project directly supports Kazakhstan’s efforts to modernize regulatory frameworks, improve the accuracy of emissions information, and enable rapid, practical methane reductions across both oil & gas and coal sectors, which are two of the country’s largest methane sources.
Regulatory Development and MRV Strengthening
Under the FFRP, Kazakhstan is advancing a comprehensive update of methane regulations for the oil and gas sector. Activities include:
  • New or updated methane regulations for the oil, gas and coal sectors, including rules for venting, flaring, LDAR, and strengthened MRV requirements.
  • Enhanced national MRV systems for methane and SLCPs, including updated emission factors, improved data collection processes, and integration with national GHG inventory systems.
  • Capacity building for government agencies, including trainings, technical workshops, study tours, and development of user‑friendly manuals and reporting guidelines. 
  • Technical analyses and pilot studies, such as methane mitigation assessments, regulatory gap analysis, and remote sensing pilots for coal mine methane.
These actions support Kazakhstan’s goal of reducing methane from its fossil fuel sector, which accounts for more than half of the country’s methane emissions. Enhancing regulatory clarity and technical understanding is essential for meeting the national NDC and contributing to global methane reduction targets.
CATF leads the implementation of these components under the FFRP, providing technical expertise, regulatory design support, and implementation guidance.

 
Coal sector SLCP Strategy Development and Capacity Building
Kazakhstan’s coal mining sector remains a significant methane emitter, particularly from underground mines. Through FFRP support, particular coal‑related activities focus on
  • Coal‑sector SLCP mitigation sub‑strategy, based on regulatory gap analysis, emissions quantification, and identification of priority mitigation measures and pathways aligned with Kazakhstan’s national climate goals.
  • Improved institutional capacity of government entities through trainings, manuals, case studies, and technical assistance on SLCP monitoring and reduction.
  • Updated emissions data and methodologies, including revised coal emissions coefficients, new disaggregated emission factors, and guidance for annual updates.
The implementation of these additional coal‑sector efforts is led by ECOJER, Agora Think Tanks, and Zhasyl Damu, who bring local policy expertise, analytical capacity, and established relationships with national institutions.
All activities under the Kazakhstan FFRP project are closely coordinated amongst all implementing partners to ensure effective in‑country coordination and that technical outputs reflect Kazakhstan’s institutional and regulatory realities.
 
Reference numbers: 
  • [KZ-24-003] Kazakhstan – Enhancing capacity in SLCP Mitigation in Kazakhstan’s coal mining sector 
  • [KZ-25-005] Kazakhstan - Developing and Implementing Methane Regulations for the Oil and Gas, and Coal Sectors