Turkmenistan expands export capacity of gas pipeline to China

Turkmengaz State Concern and Petro Gas LLP company (UK) will sign a contract for the communication infrastructure construction at the intersection of the second branch of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline with the Amu Darya River.

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed the relevant decree to increase the export volume of Turkmen natural gas to foreign countries.

The construction work is planned to be launched in November 2013. The facility is planned to be commissioned in March 2015.

At the last government meeting President Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed Turkmenistan's commitment to a multi-faceted inter-state dialogue with long-term strategic partner China, the Turkmen government said on Saturday.

Turkmenistan plays the role of one of the key players in the energy market in the Caspian region. The raw materials have been exported to Russia and Iran for a long time. The route to China was opened in 2009. At present, it is the largest purchaser of these valuable raw materials and expects to increase annual purchases up to 65 billion cubic meters of gas.