TIEF 2024 International Investment Forum

International Forum to Attract Foreign Investments in Turkmenistan’s Energy Sector

The Forum's principal organisers are the State Concerns "Turkmengas" and "Turkmennebit", and the State Corporation “Turkmengeology” /

The purpose of this event hosted in the world’s leading capital is to expand the opportunities for attracting foreign direct investment in all aspects of the Energy industry of Turkmenistan and to strengthen regional dialogue on further sustainable development of the energy sector. Upstream, midstream and downstream opportunities will also be addressed. The Forum will bring together leading national and international energy companies, as well as experts who shape the future of the oil and gas industry not only in Turkmenistan but also in the wider region.

As the world embarks on a massive energy transition so, too, is Turkmenistan changing. The country has so much to offer from hosting the world’s largest onshore gas field - Galkynysh field - to world-class natural conditions for the development of solar and wind power. The opportunities that our resources and conditions offer will be the prime focus of the forthcoming International forum in Paris where Turkmenistan’s leading energy companies will be actively seeking foreign direct investment in our abundant resources.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, speaking at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, announced Turkmenistan’s accession to the Global Methane Pledge and further continuation of ongoing cooperation with international organizations and partner states within the framework of existing projects and programs aimed at the practical implementation of the conditions arising from the Global Methane Pledge, the head of state emphasized. The discussion of major issues related to the reduction of methane emissions will be reinforced by a separate session at the TEIF in Paris.

Turkmenistan is actively developing its renewable energy sector. An example of this is the construction of a 10-megawatt hybrid solar-wind power plant near Altyn Asyr Lake in 2023, financed by the Abu Dhabi Development Fund.

Turkmenistan also continues to be a major player in the Asian oil & gas market. The country’s hydrocarbon resources are estimated at over 71 billion tons of oil equivalent, that is over 20 billion tons of oil and over 50 trillion cubic meters of natural gas. Given these figures, as of today, Turkmenistan operates the world’s largest onshore Gas field, Galkynysh, and holds the world’s fourth-largest proven natural gas reserves, after Russia, Iran, and Qatar. Currently, Turkmenistan’s largest customer is the People’s Republic of China. Turkmenistan currently supplies China with over 30 BCMA through the three lines (A, B, and C) of the Central Asia Gas Pipeline system and, upon completion of the fourth D line, the annual Turkmen natural gas supply will reach a contractual 65 billion BCMA. Turkmenistan also supplies gas to Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia.

Turkmenistan and its partners in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline Project continue to support the implementation of this mega-project. The 1,853-km pipeline will deliver up to 33 BCMA natural gas from Galkynysh to three off-take points in Afghanistan, three offtake points in Pakistan, and a final off-take point at the Pakistan-India border to supply the Indian market.

Turkmenistan is actively developing its offshore fields in the Caspian Sea and onshore in the Balkan region. Currently, several leading IOCs are producing oil and gas from contractual areas in the Caspian Sea, among them: ENI, Dragon Oil, and Petronas. The focus of this year’s conference will be the attraction of investment to offshore Blocks No. 21 and 23, West Cheleken, optimization of production from mature fields, and next-phase developments of the supergiant Galkynysh field, which holds the world’s second-largest gas reserves.

In parallel with the export of natural gas by pipeline, Turkmenistan is currently focusing on the deep processing of hydrocarbons, which in the long term may become dominant in the country’s economy. In recent years, several gas chemical complexes have been commissioned, and several more are planned to be built to manufacture high-added value goods that are in high demand on world markets.

Other strategic projects implemented in phases by the oil and gas complex of Turkmenistan include the project for the reconstruction of the Turkmenbashy Complex of Oil Refineries and the Seyidi Complex of Oil Refineries.

Currently, the UK-based GaffneyCline is working to support to SC “Turkmennebit” in the preparation of investment packages for the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea. TEIF 2024 agenda will include sessions on: Turkmenistan’s role in the future of global energy, New investment opportunities in the Turkmen energy sector – oil and petrochemicals, Reduction of Methane and CO2 Emissions in Hydrocarbon Production and Monetization, Accelerating the Drive to Attract Investment in New Energy and Infrastructure Projects, New investment opportunities in the Turkmen energy sector – natural gas.

A key aspect of creating a solid legal framework in Turkmenistan is the adoption of the law of Turkmenistan «On Hydrocarbon Resources», «On Currency Regulation», «On Foreign Investments», and «On Investment Activities», which are aimed at creating a favorable investment climate in the country to attract long-term foreign investments and a state guarantee for reliable legal protection of investments and their return. Among the main factors of the growing attractiveness of Turkmenistan for foreign investors is the stable economic and political situation in the country, as well as the legislative framework and state guarantees.