Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — U.S. Ambassador Jonathan Henick hosted an event dedicated to the significant achievements of a joint project between GasGreen Asia LLC, a subsidiary of Maryland-based Climate Compass, and Uzbekistan’s national gas distribution company, JSC "Hududgazta’minot."

Launched in March 2023, the project aims to detect and eliminate natural gas leaks in Uzbekistan’s land-based gas distribution system, contributing to the country’s transition to a green economy and fulfilling its commitments under the "Global Methane Pledge."

The event was attended by high-ranking representatives from the Government of Uzbekistan, JSC "Hududgazta’minot," GasGreen Asia, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, American diplomats, and local media. The project’s main investor is the Korean company "Ecoeye Co., Ltd.," potentially enabling it to meet the requirements of Article 6.2 of the Paris Climate Agreement with Korea.

Ambassador Henick noted, "The United States welcomes Uzbekistan’s commitment to a broad transition to a green economy. This project supports Uzbekistan’s efforts to attract direct foreign investment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

Since the project’s inception, more than 50,000 individual methane leaks have been identified, measured, and repaired, resulting in a reduction of over seven million tons of CO2-equivalent emissions annually. The project has created more than 200 local jobs, including engineers, data specialists, and project managers, who underwent intensive training from U.S. technical experts. The work conducted has allowed JSC "Hududgazta’minot" to save tens of millions of dollars by preventing gas losses and has made a significant contribution to environmental protection.

The U.S. actively supported Uzbekistan’s decision to join the "Global Methane Pledge" in 2022 — an initiative aimed at reducing methane emissions globally. Reducing methane emissions is a key component of Uzbekistan’s efforts to fulfill its nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement on climate change. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, methane accounts for around 30% of global warming and poses an increasing problem.

Climate Compass, based in Bethesda, Maryland, is a global leader in providing logistical and technical services for greenhouse gas reduction projects. With over 20 years of experience, the company specializes in detecting and repairing methane leaks in natural gas infrastructure through advanced Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) programs. The company’s expertise has played a key role in its success in Uzbekistan.

GasGreen Asia, fully owned and operated by Climate Compass, signed a contract with JSC "Hududgazta’minot" in March 2023 to implement the LDAR program. The project is fully funded by the future generation and sale of carbon reduction credits resulting from the project’s implementation.