Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, March 14
By Huseyn Hasanov – Trend:
Turkmenistan discussed possibility of cooperation with Kuwaiti oil and gas companies, as well as investment and financial structures as part of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline’s construction, the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported.
This issue was discussed as part of the recent official visit of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Kuwait at the invitation of Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah.
“As for the economics of the two countries, they have both similar features and mutually complementary ones,” the report said. “Kuwait is known for its rich oil deposits, which make up about one tenth of global oil reserves, while Turkmenistan is famous for giant gas resources, ranking fourth in the world in terms of their volumes.”
The two countries diversify industry, where oil refining, oil and gas industry, production of building materials, fertilizers and electric power industry hold the leading positions, the report noted.
Specifying the measures for the development of partnership, the parties noted the feasibility of creating a Turkmen-Kuwaiti working commission for the energy sector, according to the report.
The Kuwaiti emir noted that the visit of the Turkmen president is regarded as a landmark event in the history of bilateral relations and opens a new chapter in the cooperation of the friendly countries, said the report.
The heads of Turkmenistan and Kuwait singled out the fuel and energy sector and the processing industry as key areas for the exchange of experience. It was noted that petrochemicals and refineries may be promising areas.
By focusing on the production of finished products from hydrocarbons, Turkmenistan, just like Kuwait, creates high technology production sector, and this enables mutual exchange of advanced developments and know-how, the Turkmenistan State News Agency reported.
Turkmenistan’s energy policy is aimed at diversification of export gas flows, and the country makes great contribution to ensuring global energy security, the report noted.
As an example, one can mention the TAPI gas pipeline, the laying of which has been recently welcomed by the UN Security Council in its resolution on Afghanistan, where support for other projects initiated by Turkmenistan, including in the transport sphere, was expressed as well, the report said.
The total length of the TAPI gas pipeline will be 1,840 kilometers. Construction of the Turkmen section of the TAPI gas pipeline began in December 2015.
Construction of the Afghan section of the TAPI gas pipeline started Feb. 23, 2018. The pipeline is scheduled to run along the Kandahar-Herat Highway in western Afghanistan, and further through the cities of Quetta and Multan in Pakistan. The pipeline’s route will end in the Indian city of Fazilka.