Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan sign gas cooperation memorandum

Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry and Turkmenistan’s state-owned company, Turkmengaz, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in the gas industry, according to a press release from Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry.

The agreement was signed during a meeting between Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev and Turkmenistan’s State Minister and Chairman of Turkmengaz, Maksat Babayev.

Expanding gas industry cooperation

The memorandum aims to enhance collaboration between the two countries in the gas sector, with discussions during the meeting focusing on the potential for joint projects.

While no specific details were provided, this agreement highlights the ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations in energy cooperation.

Joint projects on horizon

The potential involvement of Kazakh companies in developing the third phase of Turkmenistan‘s Galkynysh gas field was also discussed in previous meetings.

The Galkynysh field serves as the resource base for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, which has a design capacity of 33 billion cubic meters per year.

TAPI pipeline project

The TAPI gas pipeline, currently under construction, will span 1,814 kilometers (1127.1 miles), passing through Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

With 85% ownership by Turkmengaz, the TAPI Pipeline Company Limited consortium is leading the $10 billion project.

The remaining 15% is shared between Afghanistan’s Gas Corporation, Pakistan’s Inter State Gas Systems, and India’s GAIL.

Galkynysh gas field, with reserves estimated at 27.4 trillion cubic meters of gas, is expected to reach a full production capacity of 30 billion cubic meters annually, contributing significantly to the pipeline’s supply.