Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Feb. 9 / Trend H. Hasanov /
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov signed a sectoral decree to further improve the work of oil and gas sector.
In mid-January 2010 the Turkmen leader has accused some officials of fuel-energy complex that they fulfill their duties in bad faith being passive in resolving issues of industry development.
As an example, "inadequate work" of the Turkmen Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources was cited. Minister Oraznur Nurmyradov was dismissed for serious shortcomings in the work. Former deputy head of the ministry Bayramgeldy Nedirov will temporarily replace him.
The document published today says that a new decree is adopted for the proper organization of the reconciliation procedure of the ministries and departments of Turkmenistan's oil and gas industry and their subordinate enterprises and institutions.
Staff and structure of the central apparatus of the local energy industry were approved.
Moreover, ministries, branch offices of oil and gas sector and their subordinate enterprises and institutions should approve their staff plans in accordance with that previously approved by the President.
Industry organizations together with the participation of the Ministry of Justice should prepare and submit proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers for making appropriate changes and amendments to existing legislation of the country.
In 2009, Turkmenistan according to a BP's report on natural gas reserves in the world ranked the fourth place, after Russia, Iran and Qatar. Moreover, alternative routes bypassing Russia were developed last year. In December, a gas pipeline to China and additional branch to Iran were put into operation. At the same time, supplies to Russia which were stopped in April 2009 have been resumed again from early 2010.
At the moment, an additional gas pipeline to Russia (the Caspian one via Kazakhstan), to Europe (Nabucco via the Caspian Sea through Azerbaijan) and India (Trans-Afghani via Pakistan) are among the discussed projects.