Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Nov. 3 / Trend , H.Hasanov /
The International Conference entitled 'Global Integration of Energy Markets - Ensuring Energy Security' is to be opened in Ashgabat today, an official Turkmen source reported. The two-day conference is organised by the Foreign Ministry and Oil and Gas Ministry of Turkmenistan.
"The representative energy forum is held to further expand cooperation in energy security issues among the OSCE member countries," the source said.
The conference is expected to be attended by the representatives of major oil companies, international organisations and OSCE political and diplomatic circles.
The agenda will cover the effectiveness of the global energy system, interaction of producers, transit countries and consumers, infrastructure development, fuel and energy complex of Turkmenistan, cooperation in the field of processing of energy resources, sharing the latest technologies, cooperation in the investment area, as well as energy conservation and the use of alternative energy sources.
Turkmen President Mr. Berdimuhammedov first voiced the suggestion of holding this event in Ashgabat during the summit of the OSCE member states in Astana last December.
The Turkmen President said that it is advisable to intensify the energy dialogue within the OSCE and to formulate the mechanisms for multilateral consultations on political, economic, financial, technological and environmental aspects of the construction and exploitation of multi-variant pipeline infrastructure.
The Ashgabat conference believes the OSCE must concentrate on the security of international energy supplies.
The President said this issue affects the vital interests of the majority of OSCE member states and directly affects the stability of the geo-strategic situation in the continent.
President Berdimuhamedov stressed that it is necessary to reach a new level of understanding of modern realities in the field, stop politicising the energy supplies and establish fair, equitable and transparent partnership
Turkmenistan ranks fourth on its gas reserves in the world after Russia, Iran and Qatar. A gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to China was commissioned in December 2009. There was an additional branch to Iran in January 2010. This allowed for expansion in the selling market for supplying Turkmen energy resources.
The additional gas pipelines to Russia (the Caspian Sea - through Kazakhstan), Europe ("Nabucco" - via the Caspian Sea through Azerbaijan) and India (Trans-Afghan via Pakistan) are among the projects being discussed.