Irina Semykina
Senior Consultant
Carbon Limits AS
Irina Semykina has over 15 years’ experience in the oil and gas sector, specialising in the economics of the energy transition. She is a Senior Consultant at Carbon Limits, working on methane inventories, capacity building in methane management, methane abatement finance, and country engagement to advance mitigation efforts. Previously, she worked across research, government, and industry on the sustainable development of the oil and gas sector.
Participates in
TECHNICAL PROGRAMME | Energy Leadership
Stakeholder Engagement
Forum 31 | Technical Programme Hall 5
30
April
10:00
11:30
UTC+3
The increasing availability of publicly accessible satellite data has revolutionised how methane emissions are monitored and measured. With global coverage and near real-time insights, these tools offer regulators unprecedented visibility, enabling more informed and timely interventions. However, as public awareness grows, satellite data has sometimes been portrayed in the media as a mechanism for exposing operators – an approach that can hinder collaboration and long-term progress.
Effective methane emissions management requires a shift in narrative towards cooperation. By engaging local stakeholders and operators constructively, satellite data becomes a catalyst for understanding emission sources and effective mitigation. Drawing on real-world use cases from several countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, we identified key guiding principles for successful stakeholder engagement in methane reduction.
These principles have been applied across projects based on satellite methane detections, enabling multiple cases of successful mitigation through stakeholder engagement.
Since 2021, Carbon Limits, supported by the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative, has partnered with satellite provider GHGSat to detect methane superemitters using remote sensing. The program focused on operators of oil and gas assets in Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, and Kazakhstan. Satellite imagery, combined with public data, enabled identification of (i) asset types, (ii) probable emission sources, and (iii) data sharing with operators for confirmation and mitigation. Findings were shared with local stakeholders to verify leaks and explore mitigation options. As a result, three persistent sources averaging 3,200 kgCH₄/h were eliminated, demonstrating the impact of stakeholder engagement.
Another project promoted direct engagement with regulators to explore use cases for public satellite data in two countries. The team collaborated with regulators and operators to: (i) diagnose challenges in interpreting satellite data, (ii) co-develop plans to integrate it into regulatory workflows, (iii) test plans using real notifications, and (iv) deliver tailored capacity-building sessions. Outcomes include country-specific action plans and a case study report showing how satellite data supports emission detection, mitigation, and methane inventory improvements.
These case studies show that stakeholders often share aligned perspectives, and inclusive engagement can unlock productive collaboration. This approach is a powerful tool for accelerating methane mitigation, driven by satellite data. Lessons learned and best practices can be scaled to other regions to accelerate methane mitigation through strengthening local capacity.
Effective methane emissions management requires a shift in narrative towards cooperation. By engaging local stakeholders and operators constructively, satellite data becomes a catalyst for understanding emission sources and effective mitigation. Drawing on real-world use cases from several countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, we identified key guiding principles for successful stakeholder engagement in methane reduction.
- Collaborative approach. Foster partnerships between regulators and operators to co-design working solutions.
- Listen first. Avoid pre-judgments or a “we know better” mindset, and understand local practices, existing efforts, and needs.
- Trust-based relationships. Start with manageable steps that respect local capacity, scale efforts gradually while building trust.
- Knowledge transfer. Empower local actors with the tools, training, and access needed to monitor and manage emissions independently, fostering ownership and resilience.
These principles have been applied across projects based on satellite methane detections, enabling multiple cases of successful mitigation through stakeholder engagement.
Since 2021, Carbon Limits, supported by the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative, has partnered with satellite provider GHGSat to detect methane superemitters using remote sensing. The program focused on operators of oil and gas assets in Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, and Kazakhstan. Satellite imagery, combined with public data, enabled identification of (i) asset types, (ii) probable emission sources, and (iii) data sharing with operators for confirmation and mitigation. Findings were shared with local stakeholders to verify leaks and explore mitigation options. As a result, three persistent sources averaging 3,200 kgCH₄/h were eliminated, demonstrating the impact of stakeholder engagement.
Another project promoted direct engagement with regulators to explore use cases for public satellite data in two countries. The team collaborated with regulators and operators to: (i) diagnose challenges in interpreting satellite data, (ii) co-develop plans to integrate it into regulatory workflows, (iii) test plans using real notifications, and (iv) deliver tailored capacity-building sessions. Outcomes include country-specific action plans and a case study report showing how satellite data supports emission detection, mitigation, and methane inventory improvements.
These case studies show that stakeholders often share aligned perspectives, and inclusive engagement can unlock productive collaboration. This approach is a powerful tool for accelerating methane mitigation, driven by satellite data. Lessons learned and best practices can be scaled to other regions to accelerate methane mitigation through strengthening local capacity.
