Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, June 5 / Trend H. Hasanov /
Construction of the pipeline East-West will further strengthen the energy security of Turkmenistan, as well as greatly enhance the output of energy to the world markets, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov said at a governmental meeting.
National TV channel Altyn Asyr reported that the Turkmen leader stressed its "special importance" with a length of 1,000 kilometers and a capacity of 30 billion cubic meters of gas a year.
The state concern Turkmengaz will realize the project by 2015 at its own expense and specialized units. Potentially, this pipe can be added to two projects: an additional pipeline to Russia (the Caspian Sea - via Kazakhstan) and Europe ("Nabucco" - via the Caspian Sea through Azerbaijan)
Construction of the gas pipeline, along with other investment projects in oil and gas industry, to be implemented in the coming years, will facilitate the successful implementation of the state energy strategy for the long-term-prospect," Berdimuhammedov said.
Turkmenistan holds the fourth place in the world on gas reserves after Russia, Iran and Qatar. The largest reserves of oil field South Yolotan-Osman have been recently reaffirmed. Its reserves are predicted at 16 trillion cubic meters of gas, which is two trillion more compared to the original figures. By 2030 the country plans to export up to 200 billion cubic meters of gas a year.
At the governmental meeting Berdimuhammedov emphasized the positive dynamics of growth in production since the beginning of the year in the oil and gas industries, as well as in processing of hydrocarbons.
"It is necessary to achieve further increase in these priority sectors of national economy through the active introduction of modern high technologies and the use of modern equipment," he said.
"The fuel-energy complex faces massive challenges for the development of its industrial capacity, transport infrastructure and capacity in energy exports. Local enterprises have great importance in achieving these goals today.