Energy of the Turkic states and the interests of Europe: Turkmenistan
Energy of the Turkic states and the interests of Europe: Turkmenistan
With the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Europe's interest in Turkmenistan, the largest producer and exporter of natural gas in Central Asia, is increasing.
Europe, which has an energy problem since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war, has stepped up efforts to develop cooperation in this area with Turkmenistan, which is the largest producer and exporter of natural gas in Central Asia, in order to ensure energy security.
Based on the Framework Agreement on Energy Cooperation and Mutual Understanding signed by Turkmenistan with the EU in 2008, cooperation between the parties in the field of energy has entered a new era.
In this regard, in 2011, negotiations on the construction of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline project, initiated by former President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and then President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, came to the fore again.
While Turkmenistan's policy of opening up the European market through the implementation of this project is one of the country's priorities, Turkmen officials have also begun to express their country's determination to supply gas to Europe through the construction of the Trans-Caspian pipeline in their statements, which they have repeatedly made.
He signed a memorandum on the transportation of Turkmen gas to Turkey and Europe through Azerbaijan
While the issue of connecting Turkmen gas to the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) within the framework of the Trans-Caspian pipeline project on the joint initiative of Turkey and Azerbaijan was on the agenda, the first step in this direction was the 1st Meeting of the Heads of state of Turkey-Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan, held on December 14, 2022 in the Avaza region of Turkmenistan with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
Speaking at the summit, Erdogan said: "We must start working on the transportation of Turkmen natural gas to Western markets. We are ready to cooperate with our Turkmen and Azerbaijani brothers in the field of friendship in the Caspian Sea."
At the summit, the leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the development of energy cooperation between the three countries on the transportation of Turkmen gas to Turkey and Europe, which represents an important legal infrastructure for the transportation of Turkmen gas to Turkey and Europe through Azerbaijan.
Despite the fact that the Memorandum of Understanding provides Turkmenistan with important opportunities for transporting Turkmen natural gas to Turkey and Europe via TANAP, the summit also decided to establish a working group with officials from the three countries to assess the details of this issue.
It is hoped that the implementation of this project will contribute to solving the gas problem that arose as a result of the energy crisis in Europe and expand the geography of Turkmenistan's natural gas exports to Europe.
Turkmenistan is a key supplier and consumer of natural gas
Turkmenistan is a key supplier and consumer of natural gas in the region due to its reserves and energy production.
According to official data, Turkmenistan, whose natural gas reserves are estimated at about 15 trillion cubic meters, aims to increase the volume of natural gas exports and expand the geography of exports, making efforts to increase its production.
In Turkmenistan, where 66 billion cubic meters of natural gas were produced in 2020, this figure was increased to 83 billion cubic meters in 2021 as a result of the implementation of investment projects for the development of the energy sector. Thus, the highest annual level of natural gas production has been achieved since the country gained independence.
Turkmenistan is the largest producer of natural gas in Central Asia with an average annual production volume of 80 billion cubic meters, exporting more than half of this volume.
About 35 billion cubic meters of natural gas produced annually in Turkmenistan is consumed domestically, while 40 billion cubic meters are exported to China, and the rest to Azerbaijan through Russia, Uzbekistan and Iran.
Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China Pipeline
Turkmenistan, which currently sells about 40 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually through 3 different networks of the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China pipeline, the first network of which was commissioned in 2009, is currently the largest supplier to China.
While negotiations are underway with China on the construction of the 4th pipeline network, the pipeline will be able to supply an average of 50 billion cubic meters of Turkmen natural gas annually to the southern regions of China.
Turkmenistan is "coldly approaching" the trilateral gas union led by Russia
Meanwhile, Russia, which has faced Western sanctions and embargoes since the start of the Ukrainian-Russian war, has expressed its intention to see Turkmenistan in the trilateral gas alliance they have formed with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as part of a new energy search.
Turkmenistan, the main supplier of natural gas to China, did not like this plan of Russia.
Speaking about this, Murat Archayev, deputy head of the Turkmengaz State Corporation, said that it is necessary to clarify such issues as what expansion opportunities are being discussed under the trilateral gas union and which countries are interested in it, while experts interpreted Archayev's words as "Turkmenistan's cold approach to the trilateral gas union."
