Kazakhstan and Korea agree on satellite monitoring of methane emissions

Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea are expanding cooperation in the space sector. One of the practical outcomes will be the use of Korean satellite data to monitor methane emissions across Kazakhstan, El.kz reports citing the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan.

The agreements were reached as part of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to the Republic of Korea. The Kazakh delegation representing the relevant government authorities was headed by Deputy PM and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev.

JSC “NC “Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary” signed an agreement with South Korea’s Nara Space Technology Inc. The company will provide satellite data from GYEONGGISat-2A and GYEONGGISat-2B, as well as data from the NarSha satellite constellation.

The data will be used to monitor sources of methane emissions. The primary focus will be on oil and gas facilities, oil refineries, and natural gas infrastructure.

Satellite data may also be used by government authorities and industrial companies for emissions measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems. In practice, satellite-based monitoring will make it possible to track potential methane sources across large areas without relying continuously on ground-based monitoring methods.

Kazakhstan also signed a separate agreement with South Korea’s CONTEC Co., Ltd. The agreement covers satellite manufacturing, the development of ground infrastructure, the processing of Earth observation data, and its subsequent commercial use.

A separate investment agreement was concluded by “Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary,” the Kazakh company Ghalam, CONTEC, and APSI. The agreement provides for the development of technological capabilities and the attraction of investment into a Kazakh enterprise.

In addition, the parties held the third meeting of the Joint Working Group on Space Activities, with the participation of Kazakhstan’s Aerospace Committee and the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA).

Kazakhstan already has its own satellite communications and Earth observation systems. Three spacecraft constellations are currently in operation in the country, while the KazSat satellite system meets national requirements for satellite communications and television broadcasting.