Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, August 30 / Trend H. Hasanov /
During the next meeting of the Turkmen Majlis (Parliament) of the fourth convocation a bill 'On hydrocarbon gas and gas supply' was passed, a Turkmen government statement published on Friday reported.
The provisions of the new law are aimed at creating the conditions for the effective functioning of the gas market and the reliable and safe operation of gas supply systems.
'Adoption of this law is due to the need for state support in the development of the gas industry in order to improve the socio-economic conditions of the population, provision of technical progress and the creation of conditions for the development of Turkmenistan's economy, taking into account industrial and environmental safety', the statement said.
Turkmen government policy in this sphere is carried out by means of state regulation of the rational use of natural gas reserves which are of strategic importance and gas exports based on the need to protect the economic interests of Turkmenistan and its international obligations on its exports.
It is also about the increase in the level of gasification of homes and communal services, industrial enterprises and other organisations located throughout the country, creating the conditions for the increased use of gas as a fuel and raw material for the domestic chemical industry, providing a reliable source of raw materials in gas production and energy security of the country.
According to a BP report, Turkmenistan stand at fourth place for natural gas reserves in the world after Russia, Iran and Qatar. The largest fields are concentrated in the Mary province in the east of the country - Southern Yoloten - Osman field (was merged and renamed to Galkinish) and the Yashlar field with shared resources estimated by local geologists and the British GCA company to hold 26.2 trillion cubic meters.