Turkmenistan's President Instructs to Extinguish the 'Gates of Hell' Crater Burning for Over 50 Years

Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, speaking at a government meeting, has instructed to find a way to extinguish the gas crater known as the 'Gates of Hell', located in the Karakum Desert. This was reported by the Turkmenportal website.

The relevant instruction was given to the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Shahim Abdrakhmanov, who is responsible for oil and gas matters. According to the publication, the leader made this decision due to the negative impact of natural gas flaring on the region's ecology. The President emphasized that the gas from the crater could be used to improve the quality of life in local communities.

Berdymukhamedov did not rule out involving foreign specialists in the work to extinguish the crater. The gas crater, located 266 kilometers from the capital Ashgabat, appeared in 1971 following the collapse of an exploratory mine in the area. The crater, which has a diameter of 60 meters and a depth of 20 meters, subsequently earned the name 'Gates of Hell'. The fire column rising from the crater can reach heights of up to 15 meters.