Turkmenistan’s role in global energy integration mulled in int’l gas congress
By Sara Rajabova
The fifth International Turkmenistan gas Congress (TGC) took place in Avaza tourism zone in Turkmenistan on May 20-21.
The event attracted around 500 delegates from 41 countries, including representatives of government bodies, heads of diplomatic missions, prominent international organizations, scientists and experts and the representatives of 158 organizations.
Important government officials that represented Turkmenistan at the congress included Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan responsible for the Oil and Gas sector Baymurad Hodzhamukhamedov, Director of the State Agency for the Use and Management of Hydrocarbon Resources under the President of Turkmenistan Yagshigeldy Kakaev, Chairmen of the Turkmengaz, Turkmenneft, Turkmengeologia, Turkmenhimiya and Turkmenneftegazstroy State Corporations, the Turkmenbashi Oil Processing Complex, Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
The International Gas Congress was accredited by important and respected companies, including Chevron (U.S.), Petronas (Malaysia), LG International, Hyundai and Samsung (South Korea), Pietro Fiorentini and ENI (Italy), CNPC, Huawei (China), Dragon Oil (UAE), Airbus, Cifal (France), Shell (Netherlands, United Kingdom), ONGC Videsh (India), Gazprom, OMK ZAO, FIDMASH (Russia), Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan), RWE Dea AG (Germany), Gaffney, Cline & Associates (UK), Petrofac (UK), BG Group (UK), ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Turkmenistan Ventures BV, Schlumberger (U.S.), Schneider Electric Industry SAS (France), Calik Energy (Turkey), Sumitomo Corporation, YOKOGAWA, ITOCHU Corporation (Japan), TOTAL (France), Wintershall ( Germany), TekhnoPro, SWAPO (Russia) Petro Gas, Interpipe and AZOVMASH (Ukraine), Dredging International BV , Buried Hill Serdar Limited, Burren Resources Petroleum Limited, BG Group, Belam Power Engineering AG, BASF, BACS, STF, Beicip‐Franlab, NALCO Champion / An Ecolab Company and many others.
Chairman of Turkmengaz National Gas Corporation Charymuhammet Hommadov underlined at the congress that the Turkmengaz State Corporation continues with its large scale implementation of measures that will lead to an economic breakthrough.
More intensive and complex processing of natural gas and a larger share of gas products in export will allow Turkmenistan to improve their position on the primary energy resources market and also to occupy an important position on the chemical product market, which has more potential. According to the forum participants, this is the reason that chemical processing of methane and ethane which are the components of natural gas, is increasingly important, allowing for the production of polythene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and other highly liquid products. Other important developments include the utilization of associated petroleum gas and processing it into liquid natural gas, synthetic liquids and electrical energy.
Representatives of international companies and organizations expressed their desire to work towards improving their business and partnerships with Turkmenistan. Senior Turkmen officials also spoke of their interest in cooperation with the leading oil and gas companies as subcontractors for the development and use of hydrocarbon resources and as partners in product sharing.