At the TEIF 2025 investment forum in Kuala Lumpur, Turkmenistan's Energy Minister Maksat Babayev proposed considering investments in a number of strategically important areas of the country's energy sector, including the development of new stages of the largest gas field Galkynysh.
Speaking to international delegates, Babayev emphasized that Turkmenistan, which ranks fourth in the world in proven natural gas reserves, is ready to play a key role in the global energy transition.
«We are committed to creating a modern, flexible and competitive energy system capable of effectively responding to the challenges of the global energy transition,» the minister said.
According to Babayev, the Galkynysh field, together with nearby fields, is estimated at more than 27 trillion cubic meters of gas, making it one of the largest onshore gas fields in the world. The first stage of field development with a capacity of 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year has already been completed, and the second stage will increase gas exports to China.
Among the proposed areas for investment, the minister named:
- Development of the next stages of the Galkynysh field
- Optimization of production at mature fields
- Construction of an underground gas storage facility with a capacity of 5 billion cubic meters
- EPC contracts for large industrial projects
Babayev noted that China is currently the largest consumer of Turkmen gas, with supplies through three existing gas pipeline lines exceeding 30 billion cubic meters per year. Upon completion of the fourth line, the volume of supplies could reach 65 billion cubic meters.
The Minister also stressed the importance of implementing the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, which is designed to supply natural gas to countries with a total population of 1.75 billion people. According to him, the 214-kilometer section in Turkmenistan has already been completed, and the construction of the 153-kilometer Afghan section from Turgundi to Herat, which has received the symbolic name "Arkadagyň ak ýoly" (Arkadag's White Road), has already begun. According to experts, the gas pipeline will create about 12 thousand jobs in Afghanistan and will contribute to solving humanitarian problems.
In his speech, Babayev emphasized the environmental importance of Turkmen gas, noting that 30 billion cubic meters of Turkmen natural gas annually supplied to China can replace up to 50 million tons of coal, preventing the emission of more than 60 million tons of greenhouse gases.
"These are not just numbers. This is a real contribution to improving air quality, reducing climate risks and creating a sustainable future for the entire region," the minister concluded.
