World's Energy

11 February 2008 - Upstream OnLine - Turkmenistan, Central Asia's top natural gas exporter, plans to produce 73 billion cubic metres of gas this year and 10.8 million tonnes of crude, the state natural gas producer said. Turkmenistan has yet to publish production figures for 2007. Last year it said it planned to raise gas production by 20% to 80 billion cubic metres in 2007. A Turkmengas official said in televised remarks late yesterday that gas production was expected to rise 2.1% in 2008 compared to 2007, while oil output would be 11.2% higher than last year, Reuters reported. Locked away under Soviet rule and then the 21-year reign of former present Saparmurat Niyazov, Turkmenistan is now opening up to new energy projects under its more reformist leader, Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who came to power a year ago. Turkmenistan has yet to publish its total natural gas reserves. According to BP's annual statistical review, its proved natural gas reserves stood at 2.9 trillion cubic metres at the end of 2006. The Caspian nation sells most of its gas through Russian gas monopoly Gazprom. At the end of last year Turkmenistan halted supplies of up to 23 million cubic metres to Iran, citing technical issues. Turkmenistan has not commented on its actions since and it remains unclear when exports might resume.