Flaring is a leading source of the MENA region’s emissions

Fossil fuel operations in the Middle East and North Africa emitted around 20 Mt of methane in 2024, nearly all from oil and gas operations, with Iraq, Iran and Algeria accounting for more than 30% of the flared volumes and related methane emissions, according to the IEA’s latest Global Methane Tracker 2025

The annually updated Global Methane Tracker presents the IEA’s latest sector-wide emissions estimates – based on the most recent data from satellites and measurement campaigns – and discusses the various abatement options.

Flaring is a leading source of the MENA region’s emissions, accounting for around 25% of the total. Performance varies greatly, with Libya, Algeria and Iran having upstream methane intensities that are two to six times higher than Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates – all of which perform better than the global industry average.

Satellites made more than 800 methane emission observations over Algeria, 400 in Iran, and 165 in Iraq, with incomplete combustion from burning pits identified as the leading source of emissions in Algeria and Egypt, followed by gas lift system vents and equipment venting. A previous campaign in Iraq found flaring and direct venting as major sources. The IEA is working alongside the Clean Air Task Force and CCAC to support Iraq’s oil and gas mitigation efforts.

Many of the region’s national oil companies have joined the OGDC (Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter) or OGMP 2.0 (Oil & Gas Methane Partnership), including the UAE’s ADNOC, Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), Saudi Arabia’s Aramco, Bahrain’s Bapco Energies and Petroleum Development Oman. All countries in the region participate in the Global Methane Pledge except for Algeria, Iran and Syria, with many also taking part in the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative. However fewer countries have developed regulations focused on limiting oil and gas methane emissions. Flaring and venting restrictions are common in most countries, but flared volumes have increased by over 50% since 2010.

Global methane emissions remain stubbornly high

Globally, the fossil fuel sector is responsible for nearly one-third of methane emissions from human activity. Record production of oil, gas and coal, combined with limited mitigation efforts, has kept emissions above 120 million tonnes (Mt) annually.

Abandoned wells and mines – included in this year’s Global Methane Tracker for the first time – contributed around 8 Mt to these emissions in 2024. Closure plans should include measures to mitigate methane emissions, the IEA says, noting that timely action is critical for effective mitigation as most emissions result from mines and wells that have recently been abandoned.

A further 20 Mt of methane arises from bioenergy production and consumption.

According to the Tracker, around 70% of annual methane emissions from the energy sector could be avoided with existing technologies such as leak detection and replacing faulty equipment. The IEA points out the cost-effectiveness of such measures, since the gas that is captured can be resold.

The Tracker finds that methane abatement could have made around 100 billion cubic metres of natural gas available to markets in 2024. A further 150 billion cubic metres of natural gas is flared globally each year, the majority of which is part of routine practices and can be avoided.

IEA analysis finds a huge range in methane emissions intensities across different countries and companies. Raising awareness and spreading best practices are essential to narrow this gap, it notes.

Satellites are bringing increased transparency, with satellite-detected emissions from super-emitting methane events at oil and gas facilities rising to a record high in 2024.

While current methane pledges by companies and countries cover 80% of global oil and gas production, only around 5% of global oil and gas output demonstrably meets a near-zero methane emissions standard. The focus should now be on turning pledges into action, the IEA says, with strong action needed to prevent a 0.1% C rise in global temperatures by 2050.

“Tackling methane leaks and flaring offers a double dividend: it alleviates pressure on tight gas markets in many parts of the world, enhancing energy security – and lowers emissions at the same time,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol. “However, the latest data indicates that implementation on methane has continued to fall short of ambitions. The IEA is working to ensure that governments and industry have the tools and knowledge they need to deliver on pledges and achieve the goals they have set.”

The Middle East continues to develop its fossil fuels, along with renewables. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Optimism about industry growth in the energy sector, as well as about energy transition prospects, is stronger in the Middle East and North Africa than anywhere else in the world, according to DNV’s Energy Insights 2025 Report

According to the report, based on an annual survey of more than 1,100 senior professionals, 84% of respondents in the Middle East and Africa express optimism about energy industry growth prospects compared to 68% globally, and this figure has risen sharply from 69% last year. The report highlights that the energy sector is booming in the region, as many countries look to develop both their renewable and fossil fuel resources, noting that it has become the fastest-growing renewables market outside China, mainly thanks to solar sector growth. Installed solar capacity is forecast to rise to 100GW of installed capacity by 2030, up from just 23GW today, with Saudi Arabia looking to generate half of its domestic electricity from renewables by 2030, including 40GW of solar PV – six times the current capacity. Early this year Masdar announced a 5.2GW solar plant combined with a 19GWh battery storage facility, making it the largest combined solar battery energy storage system (BESS)  in the world.

At the same time, the region is continuing to develop its fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, DNV notes. Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are in the world’s top ten natural gas producers, while other countries are also growing production.  The combination of gas and solar is a winning one, with solar offering a cheaper and cleaner way to meet rising domestic electricity demand, while natural gas can be profitably exported.

Middle East and Africa respondents are most optimistic about reaching revenue and profit targets in the year ahead, at 73% and 71% respectively, compared with 63%/54% in North America, 58%/48% in Europe, 55%/52% Asia Pacific and 63%/54% Latin America.

Uncertain political environment

The report highlights the uncertain policy and geopolitical environment, particular in the US, with political risk seen as the leading constraint to growth. Recent geopolitical shifts have caused considerable uncertainly, with a lot of capital being diverted from renewables into oil and gas, and emerging technologies such as green hydrogen CCS, green steel and synthetic fuels being negatively impacted.

Reflecting this uncertainty, several oil and gas companies, (bp for example), have scaled back renewables commitments over the past year and increased their investment in fossil fuels. 53% of oil and gas sector respondents say they will prioritise fossil fuels over renewables over the next five years — up from 46% a year ago, while 24% of respondents in the power sector are looking to prioritise fossil fuels over renewables over the next five years, more than double the figure (11%) of a year ago. While optimism in the oil and gas sector has held steady over the past two years, standing at 66% in 2025, most oil and gas respondents (60%) say that political issues such as elections, policy uncertainty and regime change are a major threat to success in the year ahead.

Policy reversals and uncertainty are expected to hold back the energy transition in some sectors and regions, with only 55% of energy industry professionals now believing the energy transition is accelerating, sharply down from 79% two years ago. A key factor noted is the shift in investor sentiment. However, many organisations continue to invest in sustainable energy, taking a medium to long-term view.

Certain parts of the world are positive about the  pace of the energy transition, notably the Middle East and Africa region, where 77% say the pace of the energy transition is accelerating,  and Asia Pacific, where the figure is 68%. In contrast, only 47% in North America and 48% in Europe think the pace is accelerating.

"Despite global economic and political uncertainty, most of the energy industry maintains a general optimism, supported by megatrends such as electrification and energy demand," says the report. "Energy security and affordability have become priorities and are influencing both oil and gas expansion and the acceleration toward renewables. Sentiment varies from region to region, with the Middle East and Africa the most optimistic, and North America the least."

Emerson's cutting-edge dust collector monitoring solution. (Image source: Emerson)

Emerson, a global leader in industrial automation, has introduced a sophisticated dust collector monitoring and control solution aimed at improving operational efficiency, cutting maintenance costs, and ensuring environmental compliance across multiple industries.

By integrating proven mechanical and automation technologies, this intelligent system delivers real-time diagnostics and seamless compatibility with existing plant systems, enabling operators to optimise performance and prolong equipment life.

Industries including cement, mining, chemicals, food production, and power generation manage materials that generate substantial dust and particulate emissions. These airborne particles threaten worker safety, equipment reliability, and environmental standards, making effective dust collection systems essential.

Conventional dust collectors use filters that require periodic cleaning with compressed air and eventual replacement, which can lead to expensive maintenance and unexpected downtime if not properly monitored.

Emerson’s innovative solution addresses these issues through automation. By employing advanced algorithms and predictive diagnostics, it optimises filter cleaning, identifies faults early, and reduces energy consumption. Extending filter life by up to a year can save businesses as much as US$18,000, while avoiding downtime that may cost thousands per hour.

A robust automation suite

The solution combines a range of Emerson’s trusted products, such as ASCO™ pulse valves, AVENTICS™ air flow sensors, Rosemount™ pressure sensors, and PACSystems™ programmable logic controllers (PLCs). These components enable precise control of pulse valve operations and automated cleaning cycles across multiple filter lines.

Additional features include Movicon.NExT SCADA for remote monitoring, alerts, and reporting, and QuickPanel+ human-machine interfaces (HMIs) that provide real-time diagnostics and early fault detection. The system also incorporates ASCO P152 particle concentration sensors to detect low dust levels and filter issues, alongside differential pressure monitoring with optional 4-20 mA compatibility.

“With this world-class and easily implemented solution, we aim to help our end users achieve greater operational efficiencies and gain valuable insights that reduce reactive maintenance, lower the risk of downtime, minimize energy consumption, and extend equipment life while addressing the knowledge gap by providing easily accessed information for operations personnel,” said Samuele Oliva, product marketing manager for dust collectors and alternative energy with Emerson’s discrete automation business.

Delivering operator benefits

Emerson’s solution provides several key advantages. Optimised pulse valve usage extends the lifespan of valves and filter bags, reducing compressed air waste and safeguarding equipment. Predictive maintenance capabilities monitor compressed air, pressure, temperature, dust levels, and energy usage, allowing early intervention to prevent costly failures.

The system’s scalability, with licensing based on pulse valve count (up to 500), makes it adaptable to facilities of varying sizes. Its Floor-to-Cloud connectivity ensures seamless integration with existing automation systems, offering a comprehensive operational overview and supporting compliance with environmental regulations.

In addition to cost savings, the solution advances sustainability by lowering energy and compressed air consumption. Smart filter cleaning reduces waste, while early detection of failed filters helps avoid regulatory penalties. These features align with increasing industry demands for environmentally responsible practices.

Trina Storage's Elementa 2 Pro – a 5.015 MWh energy storage system designed for ultra-long lifespan, superior efficiency, and maximum safety. (Image source: Trina Storage)

Trina Storage, a prominent global provider of energy storage solutions, has rolled out its newest product—the Elementa 2 Pro 5MWh energy storage system—across key markets in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa

The product launch has drawn significant attention from industry stakeholders, underscoring its high performance and further establishing Trina Storage’s capacity to support grid stability and meet varying energy requirements worldwide.

The Elementa 2 Pro builds upon the proven success of the original Elementa 2 line, introducing the latest advancements in cell technology and system architecture. It offers a high-efficiency, intelligent, and adaptable energy storage solution for a wide range of applications.

Durable, compact, and high-performance

As energy demand continues to grow and grid reliability becomes increasingly vital, efficient use of space is more critical than ever. Trina Storage has responded with the Elementa 2 Pro 5MWh, a solution designed to meet both performance and spatial challenges in modern energy infrastructure.

At the core of the system is a 314Ah cell with an industry-leading cycle life of 15,000, ensuring both durability and long-term economic value. The unit’s side-by-side and back-to-back compact configuration minimises its physical footprint, making it ideal for installations in urban and industrial settings. A noise suppression system keeps operational noise at just 70dB, addressing concerns in sensitive locations.

Advanced cooling and safety features

To maintain peak performance, the Elementa 2 Pro features a hybrid cooling system that keeps cell temperature variance within ≤2.5°C, even under extreme conditions. In colder climates, auxiliary power needs are cut by 30%, improving the system’s overall energy efficiency.

Safety is engineered into every layer of the design. The Elementa 2 Pro uses electric vehicle-grade cells, tested rigorously to ensure they meet the highest safety standards. It incorporates a three-tier electrical protection system and an emergency shutoff, providing robust safety coverage from the cabinet level to the PCS and EMS components.

Intelligent control and streamlined maintenance

In addition to its hardware strengths, the Elementa 2 Pro is equipped with advanced smart management features to simplify operations and cut down maintenance efforts. It offers 1:1 NTC temperature monitoring, enabling real-time oversight of individual cells and allowing for rapid anomaly detection. Its four-tier or master-slave BMS setup ensures optimal performance in parallel multi-cabinet installations.

The system also supports remote upgrades and live monitoring with a single click, reducing the need for on-site interventions and increasing O&M efficiency by up to 90%. This intelligent automation significantly lowers operating costs while enhancing reliability.

A milestone in clean energy innovation

Having earned international acclaim for the Elementa series, Trina Storage has leveraged its extensive experience from global projects to develop the Elementa 2 Pro. This latest system is tailored to meet the changing needs of the energy storage market with a solution that is both robust and forward-looking.

"The launch of the Elementa 2 Pro 5MWh system marks a significant milestone in Trina Storage's commitment to innovation and sustainability," said Wei Deng, Head of Global Product at Trina Storage. "We are confident that this advanced solution will help accelerate the global transition to clean energy."

Also read: Trinasolar advances South Africa’s energy transition