New Year is a holiday that miraculously connects the present and the future, achievements and new plans. Answering the question what the year 2023, going down in history, was for workers of the domestic fuel and energy complex, we can say with confidence that its dynamics and content reflect the focus on high achievements and the implementation of large-scale tasks set for the industry by the respected President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. 

Already at the first meeting of the Government in 2023, the President of Turkmenistan emphasized the importance of identifying and developing new oil fields to further increase the potential of the fuel and energy complex, which is one of the main sectors of the country’s economy.

The need for the progressive comprehensive development of the fuel and energy complex as the leading locomotive of the national economy was noted by the respected President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in a speech at a meeting of the Halk Maslahaty on September 24. The head of state set a number of specific tasks for the country’s fuel and energy complex. These include the completion of the construction of the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India gas pipeline, the attraction of foreign investments in the development of the Turkmen section of the Caspian Sea, the development of new technologies and the modernization of technical drilling capabilities. 

In addition, our respected President Serdar Berdimuhamedov stressed the need to expand the boundaries of deep processing of hydrocarbon resources and to exchange experience with leading foreign companies in introducing digital technologies and conducting geological exploration.

“The development of the oil and gas industry of our country, which has rich reserves of energy resources, the diversification of natural gas supplies to world markets and the processing of oil and gas resources to manufacture high-quality products that meet international standards, are among the most important directions of the energy strategy of our independent state,” the President of Turkmenistan emphasized. 

On January 19, the Head of Turkmenistan visited the Galkynyş gas field in the Mary velayat, which has impressive resources of natural gas. The respected President noted that great importance was attached to the industrial development of that gas field; its discovery had strengthened the status of Turkmenistan as an energy power in the world and opened up new opportunities for expanding productive ties with foreign partners. The head of state focused on the need to provide natural gas in full to domestic consumers and to increase the country’s export potential.

The objectives set became a guide to action for oil and gas workers.

In 2023, work continued to improve the regulatory framework of the sector. In this context, the importance of developing the draft Law of Turkmenistan “On Energy Saving and Efficient Use of Energy” should be noted. 

One of the important practical steps in establishing business contacts with leading oil and gas companies and reputable financial structures and in expanding the geography of energy supplies was the International Forum to attract investments in the energy sector of Turkmenistan, held in Dubai (UAE) on April 26-27, 2023. The main goal of the forum, organized by the Türkmengaz and Türkmennebit State Concerns and the Türkmengeologiýa State Corporation in partnership with the Turkmen Forum and the British company GaffneyCline, was to expand opportunities for attracting foreign direct investments in all segments of the energy industry of Turkmenistan and strengthening the regional dialogue on the further sustainable development of the energy sphere. 

In terms of implementing these objectives and developing international cooperation, it should be noted that in 2023, divisions and enterprises of the fuel and energy complex were presented at several large exhibition venues. Among them was the Exhibition of Economic Achievements of Turkmenistan, held to mark the 32nd anniversary of the country’s independence. In the extensive exhibition, demonstrating the accelerated pace of the development of the sector, special emphasis was placed on new export and import-substituting goods from the country’s industrial giants, the Turkmenbashi complex of oil refineries, and samples of oil and gas processing products of the Türkmengaz and Türkmennebit State Concerns were also presented. 

The participation of these State Concerns and the Türkmengeologiýa Corporation in the International Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference ADIPEC-2023, held in Abu Dhabi (UAE) on October 2-5 and uniting players and experts of the global energy market from 28 countries, became significant for the development of international cooperation. 

In 2023, the focus continued to be on environmental aspects of the development of the domestic oil and gas industry, and specific measures were taken to comply with environmental standards in the development of oil and gas fields and the production, processing and delivery of hydrocarbon resources to consumers. Measures were consistently taken to reduce and mitigate the negative impact of methane emissions into the atmosphere. 

In this context, let us recall the International Scientific Conference “Environmental Aspects of Hydrocarbon Resources Extraction” held in a hybrid format at the Yyldyz Hotel in the capital. The forum was attended by more than 100 representatives of ministries and industry departments of Turkmenistan, international organizations and embassies of a number of states accredited to our country and scientific institutions, environmentalists and investors, financiers and researchers, analysts and innovating specialists from 30 countries of the world. 

The result of large-scale work in the field of the environmental agenda was the statement of the respected President Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Dubai (UAE), on Turkmenistan’s accession to the Global Methane Pledge. Our country will continue to effectively cooperate with the international community in fulfilling the tasks arising from this commitment. The Head of Turkmenistan stressed he was firmly confident that workers of the oil and gas sector would contribute to their successful implementation. 

One of the key events for the country’s energy industry is the Annual International Forum “Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan”. In 2023, the XXVIII Conference and Exhibition took place at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan on October 25-27. More than 700 delegates from 49 countries took part in the forum in offline format only. Participants from a number of countries joined them via videoconference. In turn, more than 70 companies placed their stands at the OGT-2023 International Exhibition. During the three days of the exhibition, about 10 thousand people visited it.  

The year 2023 can be called indicative in terms of expanding the export of Turkmen energy resources. Thus, speaking at the ECO Summit in Tashkent, the President of Turkmenistan announced the country’s readiness to increase supplies of natural gas and electricity to the member countries of the Economic Cooperation Organization. 

Following the meeting of representatives of the Türkmengaz State Concern with the delegation of the Republic of Iraq, a Protocol was signed in Ashgabat on the main commercial terms of the agreement on the delivery, purchase and sale of Turkmen natural gas to the Republic of Iraq. The document provides for the supply of up to 9 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas a year to Iraq. 

Among the important events of the year 2023, we may also note the completion of the construction of this year’s first production well No. 1.32 at the Barsagelmes field in the Balkan velayat; the obtaining of a new inflow of gas from the Sherepli field in the Mary velayat, which has a pure composition and meets all international standards; the commissioning of two new gas turbine units for electricity production at the Turkmenbashi complex of oil refineries; the growth in the production of gasoline and diesel at the Seydi oil refinery; and the production of B-92 aviation gasoline. 

Let us also recall that a modernized building of the Oil and Gas Research and Design Institute was commissioned in Balkanabat. The Türkmengaz and Türkmennebit State Concerns and the Türkmengeologiýa State Corporation received industrial gas inflows from the wells of the fields Galkynysh, Tagtabazar-I and Uzynada in November. At the same time, drilling work was successfully completed at the Uzynada field, and an inflow of gas condensate was achieved from three wells. 

At oil and gas fields, targeted measures were taken to introduce the latest scientific and technical developments, innovative technologies and a digital system into the domestic fuel and energy sector in accordance with modern requirements. 

The large-scale achievements of 2023, significant government support for the oil and gas industry, the introduction of innovative technologies and the creation of favorable working conditions for oil and gas workers and geologists inspire confidence that in the forthcoming year 2024, representatives of the domestic fuel and energy complex, effectively using all opportunities, will continue the successful implementation of the Program of the Development of the Oil and Gas Industry of Turkmenistan for the period until 2030 and will achieve new high milestones and new labor victories in ensuring energy security and stable economic development of the independent and permanently neutral Turkmenistan. 

On these pre-holiday days, industry workers send congratulations to the respected President, Hero of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Hero-Arkadag, Honorary Elder Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and all Turkmen people on the forthcoming New Year 2024! 

May each day be filled for all of us with the joy of new successes, and may our achievements increase the glory of our beloved Motherland!