OREANDA-NEWS. January 11, 2009. As is known the end of the year 2008 was marked with the exceptionally important event – the UN General Assembly approved the UN Special Resolution on the Reliable and Stable Transit of Energy and Its Role in Ensuring the Sustainable Development and International Cooperation. Thus, the world community supported President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s initiative that urged to establish constructive international cooperation in achieving global energy security. Turkmenistan’s long-term partner – the People’s Republic of China is a co-author of the UN Special Resolution. During an interview Director General of CNPC INTERNATIONAL in Turkmenistan Mr. Lyu Gunsyun shared his views on the timeliness and topicality of Turkmenistan’s initiative in the context of the present realities of international politics.

“First of all, I would like to thank Turkmen journalists for paying close attention to us and our joint project – Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline. I would like to note that we learned from the newspapers about the remarkable event that became, in my opinion, a great victory of the foreign policy pursued by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and prioritizing close international cooperation in achieving energy security, particularly stable transit of energy.

“Worldwide support of the initiative Turkmenistan which had considerably strengthened its position on the international energy market testified to your country’s increased status as a dependable and authoritative partner.

“Undoubtedly, approving the UN Special Resolution is the prologue of constructive and fruitful international cooperation in drafting the relevant convention that will be the guarantor of the reliability and security of pipeline infrastructure, expansion of the transnational gas network. I am sure the first step on this way will be the international conference which will be held in Ashgabat this spring. I would like to wish success to the forum which is to set the priorities on this exceptionally important and very promising field.

“Undoubtedly, Turkmenistan’s initiative is of particular significance for the future as well as ongoing projects on laying the transnational pipelines including Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline under construction. Taking an opportunity I would like to express sincere gratitude to all our partners – the Turkmen Government and government agencies providing overall assistance in our work, and so the progress of this large-scale project. We view construction of the gas pipeline and exploration and extraction of hydrocarbon resources on the right bank of the Amu Darya River where this largest gas main starts as the one project marking a landmark stage in the history of traditional co-operation between Turkmenistan and China.

“I would like to note that the state visit of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the People’s Republic of China in July 2007 during which the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) concluded the production sharing agreement with the State Agency for Hydrocarbon Management and Use under President of Turkmenistan and the gas sales contract with Turkmengaz State Concern gave powerful incentives to implement the agreements.

“We consider it an honour that President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov participated in the ceremony of commencing construction works and visited the construction site last autumn to inspect the progress of the project. Furthermore, our company received the package of the documents including the license for exploration and extraction of raw materials on the sharing production terms. We are very proud of being the first foreign company to operate on-land in Turkmenistan and regard this fact as a token of special respect and confidence.

“Today we can say that the project activities are carried on in compliance with the schedule. Exploration work is under way, 6 boreholes were drilled, 6 suspended wells were put back on production. The CNPC is planning to make ready for service 30 wells in Samandepe field – 23 ‘restored’ and 7 new wells by late September 2009. The company carries on the work to improve the ground infrastructure including gas transport and collection network and has performed 40 percent of the total amount of scheduled work.

“We expect to complete the construction of the gas processing plant with the annual capacity of 5 billion cubic metres by the end of 2009. Putting this plant operation will mark the beginning of supply of Turkmen gas to China. The second gas-cleaning unit with the annual capacity of 8 billion cubic metres which will be built on Altyn Asyr group of deposits will supply 13 billion cubic metres of purified gas meeting the international quality standards to China each year.

“In accordance with the General Agreement between the Governments of Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China on construction of the gas pipeline and sale of Turkmen natural gas Turkmenistan is to supply up to 30 billion cubic metres of ‘blue fuel’ to China each year . President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that this amount would be considerably increased in the following years in respect as the abundant reserves of the deposits on the right bank of the Amu Darya River would be developed.

“Construction of the gas pipeline which would cross the territories of the transit countries – Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan can be rightfully called a landmark in the history of the fruitful Turkmen-Chinese dialogue tracing back to the epoch of the Great Silk Route. Today through the efforts of both leaders we can see this route to be revived in the new grandiose project bringing our friendly peoples closer.

“I would like to assure that the CNPC as the national company will meet the undertaken commitments and fulfill the designated tasks.

“It should be noted that China pays special attention to cooperation with Turkmenistan in gas industry viewing it as an exceptionally promising and long-term partner. Concerting efforts is viewed as quite effective and mutually advantageous with regard to Turkmenistan’s abundant hydrocarbon resources and China’s profound experience in oil and gas exploration and extraction and state-of-the-art oil and gas equipment and advanced technologies.

“It can be said that having strengthen the bridge of friendship and confidence built over centuries Beijing and Ashgabat devised the universal formula of the bilateral relations that allows fulfilling the designated tasks respecting the national interests of each country and the peculiarities of the chosen way.

“China always views Turkmenistan as an advantageous partner and dependable friend. Social stability, very promising market and dynamically developed domestic economy despite the global crisis promote attracting more leading Chinese companies. We hope for further fruitful cooperation and believe that we will open many new fields for the further successful work in the interests of our fraternal peoples.

“Having worked in Turkmenistan for a year and a half I received evidence that during the years of sovereign development Turkmenistan has turned into the country of tremendous opportunities and under the leadership of its President consistently and steadily implements the giant economic and resource potential in the interests of the whole mankind. We are proud that with every passing year the level of our intergovernmental cooperation based on the age-old traditions of friendship and mutual confidence becomes higher and its scope reaches the new scale.

“Taking an opportunity I would like to wish President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, our partners and the people of Turkmenistan new accomplishments and great labour achievements in the new 2009 year. May the new 2009 year, according to the Chinese calendar the Year of the Ox which symbolizes prosperity and wellbeing bring happiness and joy to every Turkmen family and strengthen their confidence in the future.”