AIRMO to support Ghalam on Kazakhstan's satellite methane monitoring mission
Antalya, 08.10.2026 – AIRMO GmbH and Ghalam LLP have signed an agreement under which AIRMO will support Ghalam's mission to develop an EQM of payload for detecting methane emissions.
Methane is responsible for around 30% of global warming since the industrial revolution. Over 20 years, it warms the atmosphere more than 80 times as much as the same mass of CO₂. Cutting methane is the fastest way to slow near-term warming, and a large share comes from oil, gas and coal operations, where leaks can be found and repaired.
Kazakhstan joined the Global Methane Pledge at COP28 in 2023, committing to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030 compared with 2020. The energy sector is the country's largest source. Independent measurement is the basis for meeting that target: it locates leaks, shows whether repairs work and supports credible national reporting. For producers, gas that does not leak can be sold, and buyers, including under the EU Methane Regulation, increasingly require measured emissions data.
Satellite measurement detects and quantifies methane emissions across large areas, including remote oil and gas infrastructure. A national capability allows Kazakhstan to collect and use this data independently.
“We are excited to be a trusted partner to Ghalam on this mission,” said Daria Stepanova, CEO and Co-founder of AIRMO. “Kazakhstan is building its own capability to monitor methane from space. We are proud to support the Ghalam team with our experience in satellite methane measurement.”
“This project is an important step towards building Kazakhstan’s own capability to detect and quantify methane emissions from space,” said Berik Zhumazhanov, Head of payload and R&D department, Ghalam. “For Ghalam, it is also an opportunity to strengthen local expertise in optical payload development, integration and testing. Working with AIRMO, we aim to translate this expertise into reliable measurements that help identify emission sources and assess the effectiveness of mitigation measures.”
About AIRMO
AIRMO is a German-Luxembourg company providing full-stack methane intelligence from ground to space. Its measurement stack combines ground sensors, airborne SWIR spectrometry with LiDAR aerosol correction, and satellite data, including AIRMO's own satellite launching in 2027. AIRMO operates from Munich, Berlin, Luxembourg and Abu Dhabi. airmo.io
About Ghalam
Ghalam LLP is a Kazakhstan-based company headquartered in Astana, specializing in the development and manufacture of satellites and their subsystems. The company operates Kazakhstan’s Spacecraft Assembly, Integration and Testing Complex. Ghalam supports the development of Kazakhstan’s space industry through engineering, manufacturing and testing capabilities and international cooperation. www.ghalam.kz
Media contacts
- AIRMO: Daria Stepanova, daria@airmo.io
- Ghalam: Berik Zhumazhanov, b.zhumazhanov@ghalam.kz