OREANDA-NEWS. November 22, 2010. The 15th International Conference “Oil and gas industry of Turkmenistan: the present day, prospects for development and international cooperation” started its work at the Exhibition Centre in Ashgabat in the framework of the international oil and gas forum.

As was noted, the prestigious oil and gas forum has brought together over 400 foreign participants from more than 160 foreign companies from dozens of countries. Scientists and experts, representatives of the world’s leading fuel and energy companies, sectoral departments of our country, Turkmen and foreign journalists and diplomats participated in the conference.

The intense interest to the fifteenth conference is aroused by the growing economic and export potential and abundant hydrocarbon reserves of our country. Also, it is conditioned by the favourable investment climate and the constructive foreign-policy initiatives aimed at ensuring global energy security and unanimously supported by the international community.

In his welcome statement to forum participants President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that the exhibition and conference would new incentives to diversify pipeline infrastructure to ensure stable, reliable and long-term transit of energy to world markets, sign new international agreements in this field and create equal opportunities for the beneficial use of fuel and raw materials by both exporters and consumers.

The reports presented by specialists of Turkmen fuel and energy departments on short and long-range plans and prospects for development of the sector, the ongoing activities to diversify energy exports and achieve energy security aroused particular interest among forum guests. Turkmenistan had gained outstanding achievements in this field including the project of XXI century – the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline and the gas transportation artery Dovletabad-Hangeran – a new route for Turkmen ‘blue fuel’ exports to neighbouring Iran. Modernisation and extension of gas transportation infrastructure are under way. The efforts to accelerate the construction of the East-West pipeline and promote the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline are built up. Alternative routes of export pipelines are under development.

The consistent measures are taken to develop the oil and gas industries, substantial investments have been made in fundamental modernisation of Turkmenbashi oil refineries that manufactures products in compliance with international standards. The gas processing capacity is expanded that gives new incentives to produce carbamide and carbon black, which are in high demand on world markets as valuable raw materials for chemical industry.

All this allows the domestic oil and gas industry to face the future with confidence, arouses keen interest of reputable foreign companies willing to cooperate with Turkmenistan on hydrocarbon extraction as well as offer their expertise and latest technology. Therefore, the high-level delegations from the EU member states, United States, Russia, Kazakhstan, Germany, Britain, China and other countries have arrived in Ashgabat to participate in the conference.

The important issues under discussion at the conference included attraction of foreign investments, achievements and prospects for hydrocarbon exploration and production, oil refining and petrochemical industries, the role of our country in ensuring energy security and the significance of the oil and gas sector as a catalyst for Turkmenistan’s socioeconomic progress.

The two-day conference in the Turkmen capital provided an international platform for discussing the critical issues relating to the development of global energy market, energy security, design and application of advanced technologies, the prospects of oil and gas industry at a global level.

Specialists of the leading foreign companies, including Chevron, RWE, ExxonMobil, Eni, Shell, BP, which in particular focused on their willingness to foster cooperation with Turkmenistan as one of the largest energy producers in the world, whose role in ensuring global energy security increased with every passing year, made presentations on the first day of the conference. Standing steadfast to its international commitments, our country has gained the excellent reputation of being a dependable partner on energy market that is fully illustrated by the broad international platform provided by the oil and gas forum in the Turkmen capital.