Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, March 29 / Trend H. Hasanov /
Turkmenistan, being one of the key players on the gas market of the Caspian region and Central Asia, set itself a strategic goal to optimise its current capacities in the gas sector and increase the production of natural gas by 77 billion cubic meters, including about 44 billion cubic meters meant for export.
This is included in the five-year programme of the development of oil and gas sector of the country for 2012-2016, approved by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov.
According to the programme, in 2012 production had to reach the number of 69 billion cubic meters, much of which is also meant for export.
At this stage the main consumers of Turkmen gas are China, Iran and Russia. At the same time the Chinese market is characterised by increasing demand.
According to British Petroleum reports, the country ranks fourth on its natural gas reserves after Russia, Iran and Qatar. The country is currently exporting natural gas to China, Iran and Russia.
The largest fields are located in the east of the country at "Southern Yoloten - Osman" (they were merged and renamed as "Galkynysh" and "Yashlar") with total resources valued by local geologists and British GCA at 26.2 trillion cubic meters.
An additional pipeline to Russia (Caspian gas pipeline through Kazakhstan), to Europe (Trans Caspian gas pipeline, as a part of Nabucco and AGRI- through Azerbaijan) and to India (Trans Afghan gas pipeline through Pakistan) are among Turkmenistan's projected gas pipelines.
According to BP, last year Turkmenistan produced 59.5 billion cubic meters of gas or 40.6 percent more than in 2010. Last year, Turkmenistan's share of global natural gas production was 1.8%.
Gas consumption in the country in 2011 totaled 25 billion cubic meters or 10% more compared to the previous year.