Today, the capital’s Hotel “Yildyz” has hosted the International Forum on attracting foreign investment in the oil and gas industry of Turkmenistan, organized by the State Concerns “Turkmengaz”, “Turkmennebit” and “Turkenhimiya”, the State Corporation “Turkmengeology” in partnership with the ES “Turkmen Forum” and with the support from the British Company “Gaffney Cline”.

The purpose of this event, which is held not only in the traditional format, but also broadcast online from the Turkmen capital to dozens of countries around the world, is to strengthen the dialogue on the further sustainable development of the energy sector and expand opportunities for attracting foreign direct investment in the domestic fuel and energy complex.

The Forum was attended by the heads and representatives of relevant state institutions of the country, well-known oil and gas business entities, financial institutions, reputable international organizations and diplomatic missions accredited in Turkmenistan, leading experts from companies doing business in this field. In general, the Forum brought together representatives of 90 companies from 32 countries.

At the solemn opening ceremony of the Forum, the audience heard with great attention to the Address of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov addressed to the participants.

Turkmenistan has a powerful resource base, which opens up great prospects for cooperation in the economy, including in the fuel and energy sector. One of the largest gas fields in the world, “Galkynysh”, which reserves, in aggregate with the nearby “Yashlar” and “Garakel” deposits, are estimated at 27.4 trillion cubic meters, is developed today in the context of specific projects with a focus on long-term partnership.

The flagship of mutually beneficial transnational cooperation is the trunk gas pipeline Turkmenistan-China, which was put into operation at the end of 2009 and includes three parallel lines (A, B and C), which run along the route Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China.

Touching upon long-term plans in this area, the speakers emphasized that in the near future a route of a new, 4th line will be laid from the border of our country, designed to supply natural gas to the People’s Republic of China.

When developing natural resources, Turkmenistan demonstrates their rational use, concern for environment preservation, and the implementation of important international initiatives on energy security. This is evidenced by the commissioning of new industrial facilities, where special attention is paid to such an important aspect as compliance with environmental standards.

During the plenary session, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia, Head of the UNRCCA Natalia German, Head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat John MacGregor, and UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Dmitry Shlapachenko spoke. Vice President of CNPC and President of “Petrochina” Huang Yongzhang, Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, and Secretary General of the Energy Charter Guy Lentz joined the session via a digital system

As was noted, cooperation in the fuel and energy sector is a key factor in stable and progressive world processes in the modern age. International partnership in this important area, which is based on equality and the optimal balance of mutual interests, is an integral part of universal sustainable development focused on long-term prospects.

One of the urgent goals of the present time is to ensure global energy security, covering the production and transportation, as well as the final consumption of energy resources. It is this integrated approach that underlies the energy policy of neutral Turkmenistan, which determines the content and orientation of the initiatives and practical actions of our country in this area. In this regard, emphasis in the speeches of foreign delegates was on the significance of the constructive proposals of the Turkmen state, which were fully understood and supported by the world community, and enshrined in the adopted special UN Resolutions in the field of ensuring global energy security.

Then the Forum was continued with a live broadcast from the exhibition pavilion of Turkmenistan at the World Exhibition “EXPO-2020” (Dubai, UAE), where, simultaneously with Ashgabat, a session “The role of Turkmenistan in ensuring regional energy security” was organized. 

... It should be noted that Turkmenistan, focused on full-scale integration into the system of world economic relations, successfully demonstrates its potential at the EXPO site. The theme of our national pavilion is “Turkmenistan – the Homeland of Peace and Trust”. At this prestigious and large-scale world-level diversified event, the exposition, which presents the successes and achievements of our country in increasing the economic potential, the rich national culture of the Turkmen people is very popular and arouses great interest among the great number of visitors.

During the session, presentations were made by heads and leading experts of both the domestic oil and gas sector and foreign companies, including “Dragon Oil”, “Fluxys”, “Gaffney Cline”, as well as the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).

As was highlighted, at present, Turkmenistan has a clearly set goal to diversify the supply of Turkmen natural gas and create a reliable and stable system for carrying energy resources to international markets, which, in turn, is designed to contribute to addressing a larger challenge of our time, the global energy security. This determines the actions of our country in the field of energy supplies and the principles of relations with all partners concerned.

Energy security has been and remains an important factor in the foreign economic strategy of our country. Turkmenistan acts in this area on the basis of clearly formulated principles of the state strategy, a real assessment of its own resource base and the possibilities of its development in the future. At the same time, our country is an active initiator of projects and programs aimed at maintaining the environmental safety in the region and developing alternative energy. And this is clearly displayed in the national exposition at EXPO-2020.

Among the topics discussed at the Forum were the harmonization of “green” technologies and the diversification of the fuel and energy complex. In this regard, it was highlighted that the solution to this topical issue is facilitated by the innovations introduced into the industry and modern developments in this area.

One of the speeches was about the construction project of the transnational gas pipeline Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India, which is one of the most effective steps in the implementation of the energy strategy of Turkmenistan. As is known, in December 2015, the project of the Turkmen section of the TAPI gas pipeline was launched. The Heads of State and Government of the four countries parties to the project took participation in the ceremony on that occasion.

The implementation of this project, which will start from the largest “Galkynysh” field, along with the addressing of topical social issues, opens up a wide path for increasing effective cooperation between the countries in the region, increasing their economic potential, and is designed to promote peace and sustainable development. In this regard, it was emphasized that the Asian Development Bank is actively participating in this large-scale project, providing comprehensive support.

At the end of the first day of the Forum, the participants spoke in favor of continuing the practice of such events and expressed confidence that constructive multilateral cooperation between states would continue to develop successfully, defining new areas of partnership in this key sector for the long term.

Tomorrow, the International Forum on Attracting Foreign Investments in the Oil and Gas Industry of Turkmenistan will be continued. Its participants will discuss a wide range of issues at thematic sessions such as “Opportunities for investment projects in the new energy age”, “The role of financial institutions in supporting sustainable energy”, “Innovative technologies and know-how in hydrocarbon production and reduction of associated gas emissions”, “Experience, potential and prospects of international cooperation in the field of processing and transportation of hydrocarbons”.

As is expected, on the second day leading oil and gas companies will make presentations, share their experience and new developments.

Bilateral meetings are also scheduled between representatives of the domestic fuel and energy complex and their foreign partners to discuss and determine specific vectors for further cooperation.

A number of documents are to be signed as part of the present Forum.