OREANDA-NEWS. May 26, 2011. “Turkmenistan is becoming a major exporter of energy to world markets,” considers Vice President of the World Petroleum Council A. Zolotukhin

Dynamic development of the oil and gas industry of Turkmenistan is indissolubly interrelated with expansion of international cooperation. This area covers a wide spectrum of partnerships aimed at attracting investment, modernizing production facilities, adopting advanced technologies and training professionals for the oil industry. For these aspects Turkmenistan uses a variety of mechanisms, including collaboration with the authoritative international organisations and leading educational institutions all over the world.

New evidence for the recognition of Turkmenistan as an influential player in global energy market was the invitation to accede to the World Petroleum Council. Vice President of the World Petroleum Council, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Vice Chancellor for International Relations of I. M. Gubkin Russian State Oil and Gas University, an Academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences Anatoly Zolotukhin has visited Ashgabat recently. In an interview with the correspondent A. Zolotukhin told about the aims of his visit and the prospects for partnership with Turkmenistan.

“The World Petroleum Council (WPC) headquartered in London is a leading international non-profit organisation which aims to facilitate comprehensive development and promote scientific research and innovations, exchange of scientific expertise in petroleum and gas exploration, production, transportation and refining. In addition, the WPC considers economic, financial, managerial, environmental and social aspects associated with the progress of global petroleum industry.

“To achieve the abovementioned objectives, the Council acts as a forum to discuss, exchange views and knowledge among petroleum industry professionals from different countries of the world, including managers and top leaders of the industry, representatives of governmental organisations, scientists and technologists. Contacts established by professionals during the Council session promote scientific and technical cooperation and commercial relationships among petroleum professionals worldwide. Currently, the World Petroleum Council includes 65 member countries with developed petroleum and gas industry.

“Recently we have sent an invitation to Turkmenistan to accede to the World Petroleum Council, and the fruitful dialogue on this issue is being carried on. I am pleased to note that Turkmenistan intends to join the WPC as an observer.

“Turkmenistan is undoubtedly one of the countries in the world with richest hydrocarbon resources, natural gas in particular, the reserves of which are so enormous that they are difficult to overestimate. Furthermore, it is recognized all over the world today that Turkmenistan is becoming a major exporter of energy to largest international markets. Tremendous natural gas resources as well as the state strategy for diversification of energy transit open up the ample opportunities for natural gas exports in various directions, to the north and south, to the each and west, in particular towards Europe.

“According to experts of the International Energy Agency, natural gas is a resource of the XXI century, since it is most environmentally friendly fuel. Alternative energy sources, including renewable energy, will be developed as well, however we see no fuel in the foreseeable future that will be more effective, environmentally friendly and affordable than natural gas. Therefore, the issues related to management of natural gas supplies to world markets are very extremely important and topical.

“I would like to emphasize that the necessary prerequisites to increase gas demand on all major global markets are being created. After the accident at the Japanese nuclear power supporters of nuclear energy worldwide and particularly in Europe are becoming fewer. This will inevitably lead to the reduction of the share of nuclear power plants in global energy transit. And demand for such resources as gas and oil will grow accordingly.

“Today, nearly 95% of the world’s oil and gas producing is represented by the WPC member countries. This fact indicates that the WPC is some kind of club of countries which play a critical role in energy exports, and therefore the accession to this elite is a politically important step enhancing the prestige of the state.

“It is also important that the sessions of the World Petroleum Congress facilitate discussion and conclusion of new investment contracts because it brings together heads of world’s leading oil companies. Therefore, these forums are a splendid additional opportunity to attract new investment in the petroleum and gas industry.

“The issues related to education and professional training is of considerable importance for the global energy community today. In this aspect emphasis should be put on profound attention paid by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to improving the quality of training of professionals for all sectors of economy, including the petroleum and gas industry. It is very encouraging that a specific role in this area is assigned to expansion of international cooperation.

The opening of the Ashgabat branch of I. M. Gubkin Russian State Oil and Gas University in August 2008 is a very wise and prudent decision of the leaders of Turkmenistan and Russia. Frankly speaking, it is very prestigious for us, scientists and educators from Moscow, to be the best university in Russia entrusted with training of specialists for the petroleum and gas industry of Turkmenistan.

“I am pleased to note that the Ashgabat branch of I. M. Gubkin Russian State Oil and Gas University gains ‘momentum’. 65 young people studied there last year, currently the number of students is 225. This number is expected to increase to 450 students. Thus, 75 certified specialists for the petroleum and gas industry will graduate each year from the Ashgabat branch.

I. M. Gubkin University actively promotes international relations with leading institutions of higher education in foreign countries. For example, we have recently concluded the contract for cooperation with the University of Texas (Texas A&M University), which is the largest university in the United States that trains petroleum engineers. We are planning to launch a joint international programme, under which students will receive two diplomas, the diplomas of the University of Texas and I. M. Gubkin University.

Of course, we will be happy to involve most talented students from Turkmenistan in similar international programmes that will enable to receive two diplomas, the diploma of I. M. Gubkin University and the diploma of one of foreign universities.

Moreover, we are planning to invite leading foreign professors from the United States and Europe to lecture at the Ashgabat branch. A contribution made by I. M. Gubkin State Russian Oil and Gas University to training specialists for Turkmenistan is certainly an illustration of successful Turkmen-Russian cooperation. When considering partnerships between the two oil and gas powers such as Turkmenistan and Russia in the international energy market, in my opinion, great prospects are opened up for them.

A unique situation is being formed now at global level when the global energy market is being re-divided and the prerequisites to increase long-term demand for gas as the major kind of fuel are emerging. I think this will result giving preference to natural gas imports by Asian and European countries in the long term. In these conditions Turkmenistan is rightly viewed in the European market as a dependable and long-term partner, especially since the reserves of Turkmen gas guarantee its exports in any direction.