Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, May 25 / Trend H.Hasanov /
A two-day International "Turkmenistan Gas Congress-2011" opened in the Caspian resort area "Avaza" (near Turkmenbashi) on Wednesday, an official Turkmen source reported.
Turkmengaz and the British company Summit Trade Events Ltd are among the organizers of the congress.
The top managers of the Turkmen fuel and energy complex and representatives of the major foreign companies and international power structures are expected to speak at the event
Turkmenistan claims to be one of the key players in the energy market in the Caspian region. The country produces about 70-80 billion cubic meters of gas a year. Turkmenistan exports raw materials to Russia and Iran for already a long time and a new route to China was opened in 2009.
The country ranks fourth in the world for the largest gas reserves. The Turkmengeologiya State Concern reported that the country has 38 oil and 82 gas condensate fields and 153 gas fields, including 142 onshore fields and 11 fields on the shelf.
In 2006, Turkmenistan discovered the super giant oil and gas field South Yoloten Osman in the Mary Province. Gaffney, Cline & Associates estimated the field's natural gas reserves at up to 14 trillion cubic meters. According to the latest figures from Turkmen geologists, the resources can be assessed as between 21 and 22 trillion cubic feet of gas.