Turkmenistan president dissatisfied with low pace of oil and gas industry development

  Turkmenistan President Gurbangulu Berdymohammadov is not happy with a low pace of oil and gas industry development in 2013, presidential press office quoted statement of President made on January 10, 2013 at the session of the government.

Berdymohammadov said that “efficient measures are not taken to realize gas and export potential of the country and control over natural gas consumption is insufficient.”

“Huge capital is invested into development of local fuel and energy complex, but this field does not bring expected results,” President added.

He was also not satisfied with the condition of state-run concern Turkmengas and relieved its chairman Kakageldi Abdullayev of his duties, “because of his getting another position.” Charymuhammat Hommadov, “who has a great working experience in this field” has been appointed to this position, reported the presidential press office.

“We need to increase the volume of oil and natural gas production and their export to the foreign countries, according to the signed contracts,” demanded Turkmen President.

Among the tasks for 2014 Berdymohammadov mentioned “industrial development of the biggest gas field Galkynysh (Revival). It occupies the second place in the world on the volume of resources (over 21 trillion cub.m.) Construction of the East-West gas pipeline, plants for manufacture of polyethylene and polypropylene and other petrochemical products will be also continued. 

Turkmenistan occupies the fourth place in the world on the natural gas resources  after Russia, Iran and Qatar. In the past years China was the main buyer of Turkmen gas (between 20 and 30 billion cub.m.). Turkmenistan also exports gas to Russia (10-11 billion cub.m.) and Iran (6-8 billion cub.m.), reported ITAR-TACC.---0--