Turkmenistan eyes developing fuel and energy complex

/By Azernews/

By Aynur Karimova

Energy-rich Turkmenistan will continue to realize programs and projects envisaging further development, modernization and diversification of the national fuel and energy complex.

Such an instruction was given by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov at the recent meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the country's government reported.

Berdymukhamedov believes that these measures will strengthen the industrial and export potential of the energy sector, increase the volume and expand the range of the country's oil and gas chemical products.

Currently, Turkmenistan is implementing a project on construction of large oil and gas chemistry enterprises in the next decade.

The government also pays special attention to the development of gas processing industry and increasing production volumes of liquefied natural gas, which enjoys a steadily growing demand on the world market. Turkmenistan has attracted companies from Japan, South Korea and Turkey to the realization of these projects.

Turkmenistan, with its 265 trillion cubic feet of proven gas and 600 million barrels of proven oil reserves (EIA, January 2015), is actively implementing an energy strategy aimed at increasing exports of natural gas and diversifying its supply routes to the largest global markets, as well as providing the gas-chemical complexes of the country with necessary raw material.

The country exports its natural gas to China and Iran. There are also discussions on gas supply to Europe through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Turkey. Turkmenistan plans to increase gas extraction to 230 billion cubic meters by 2030, some 180 billion cubic meters of which will be exported.

Also, Turkmenistan has developed a plan for construction of industrial facilities, where the production of gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylic fibers, hydrochloric acid, caustic soda, polystyrene and other gas chemical products will be launched on the basis of advanced technologies for the processing of natural gas.

In general, Turkmenistan plans to bring its oil refining industry capacity to 20 million tons in 2020, up to 22 million tons in 2025, and up to 30 million tons in 2030. The country also plans to construct 10 new industrial facilities, engaged in the production of 17 kinds of products.

Thus, Turkmenistan will significantly expand its position not only in the market of primary energy resources, but will also take its rightful place in the market for gas and chemical products by betting on a deeper and more complex processing of natural gas and increase of the share of its products in export.