Turkmenistan Committed to Diverse Gas Export Routes – President

Excerpt from report by state-owned Turkmen TV Altyn Asyr channel on 14 March

This afternoon, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan held a special meeting with senior officials of the country’s oil and gas industry.

[Passage omitted: general remarks on the country's energy policy]

Among the priority tasks, the esteemed president listed increasing fuel output further, enhancing production capacities, expanding export potential as well as further increasing the country’s partnership with foreign countries. Traditionally, Turkmenistan’s relations with foreign partners are based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit.

Senior officials in charge of the oil and gas industry took the floor to brief the president on the current [energy] situation and on the measures being taken to develop various areas of the fuel and energy industry.

[Passage omitted: repeat remarks]

The head of the Turkmengaz [Turkmen Gas Production] state concern, Yagsygeldi Kakayew, reported on how long-term gas accords and contracts were being implemented. He also spoke about organizational and technical measures being taken aimed at ensuring that raw resources for export lines are abundant, and also about large-scale gas investment projects, including the gazification of the country’s remote regions.

Dwelling on the implementation of the Caspian gas pipeline project, Kakayew said that in accordance with the trilateral agreement signed on 12 May 2007 by the presidents of Turkmenistan, the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan, the route of the future gas pipeline is currently being examined in detail. Simultaneously, the Kazakh side is discussing the technical aspects of the project.

[Passage omitted: remarks on Trans-Afghan gas pipeline project]

[Baymuhammet] Myradow, the chief executive of the state agency for management and use of hydrocarbon resources under the Turkmen president, reported on how the [Turkmen-Chinese] general agreement to build a Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline intended to pump Turkmen natural gas to China as of 2009, was being implemented. At present, the sides are carrying out the projected pipeline construction work in a timely manner.

[Passage omitted: known details of the project; British company Gaffney Cline to examine southern Turkmenistan's gas reserves]

The esteemed president, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, dwelling on the export routes, known as a key area of Turkmenistan’s energy policy, noted that Turkmenistan remained adherent to the multi- directional approach, which is absolutely pragmatic.

Certain steps have already been taken in this respect, including the construction of a gas pipeline to China, the Caspian gas pipeline running along the Caspian sea coast as well a route to India and Pakistan via Afghanistan. Work is also under way to modernize the existing Central Asia-Centre gas mains.

[Passage omitted: the national oil and gas research institute will have new premises; Berdimuhamedow closes the meeting]

Originally published by Turkmen TV Altyn Asyr channel, Asgabat, in Turkmen 1600 14 Mar 08.

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