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Turkmenistan is developing its oil and gas sector and international cooperation
08.07.2026Turkmenistan continues to implement its strategy for the development of the oil and gas sector, with a particular focus on modernising the industry, developing new fields and expanding international cooperation. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. One of the key projects remains the further development of the ‘Galkynyş’ gas field. The fourth phase of development is aimed at increasing production capacity, developing infrastructure and introducing modern technologies. Work is also continuing on the TAPI gas pipeline project, which is designed to strengthen energy cooperation between the countries of Central and South Asia. Geological exploration work is underway in Turkmenistan’s sector of the Caspian Sea, utilising modern seismic technologies. Offshore projects are being developed in cooperation with international partners. The country’s authorities are also focusing on expanding cooperation with foreign companies in the fields of natural gas production, oil and gas chemistry, engineering solutions and technological innovations. The next stage in this international dialogue will be the 31st International Conference and Exhibition ‘Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan – OGT 2026’, which will take place in Ashgabat from 21 to 23 October. The forum will bring together representatives of government bodies, energy companies, investors and technology suppliers to discuss the industry’s development prospects.
The Japanese Ambassador presented the chess club in Ashgabat with sets for playing ‘Go’
08.07.2026Hiroshi Sasaki, the Japanese Ambassador to Turkmenistan, visited the chess club at the French Institute of Turkmenistan, where he met with Vepa Malikgulyev, President of the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. During the visit, the diplomat presented the club with two sets for playing ‘Go’ and introduced the participants to its basic rules, as well as talking about the history and cultural significance of this ancient strategic game. The chess club, organised jointly by the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan and the French Institute, holds meetings on Saturdays. Its members will now be able to play not only chess but also Go, thereby developing their strategic thinking and planning skills.
Armenia intends to expand its cooperation with Turkmenistan in the gas sector
08.07.2026Armenia is keen to expand energy cooperation with Turkmenistan, including in the gas sector. This was stated by Arsen Avagyan, Armenia’s Ambassador to Turkmenistan, in an interview with the news website Turkmenportal. According to him, Yerevan is pursuing a policy of diversifying its energy supply sources and regards Turkmenistan, which possesses large reserves of natural gas, as an important partner in ensuring energy security. The diplomat noted that energy issues are regularly discussed within the framework of the inter-governmental commission and through contacts between the relevant ministries. He recalled that in the 1990s, Turkmenistan was one of Armenia’s main gas suppliers, and the experience gained at that time provides a foundation for the further development of cooperation. A. Avagyan also emphasised that cooperation between the two countries is not limited to gas supplies and may include the exchange of expertise, the introduction of modern energy technologies and the implementation of joint projects.
Turkmenistan outlined initiatives to protect the Caspian Sea in Seoul
07.07.2026Turkmenistan presented environmental initiatives aimed at preserving the Caspian Sea at the fifth session of the Global Dialogue on Sustainable Ocean Initiative, held from 30 June to 3 July in Seoul. This was reported by the online publication ‘Business Turkmenistan’. The delegation was led by Myrat Atajanov, Director of the Caspian Institute of Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan’s representative on Caspian Sea issues and the country’s representative on the Inter-governmental Commission on the Conservation and Rational Use of Aquatic Biological Resources and the Management of Shared Stocks in the Caspian Sea. During the forum, Turkmenistan highlighted its efforts to protect the Caspian ecosystem, develop regional cooperation, ensure the rational use of biological resources and fulfil its international environmental obligations. Separately, the delegation held a series of meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, the Global Green Growth Institute and the Korea Maritime and Ocean University. Discussions centred on issues such as capacity building, maritime policy, the ‘blue economy’, the sustainable use of coastal resources and the exchange of expertise in the field of maritime governance and research.
Turkmenistan continues to develop its oil and gas fields at a rapid pace
06.07.2026The ‘Nebitdag’ Drilling Operations Department of the ‘Nebitgazburawlaýyş” Trust, part of the “Türkmennebit” State Concern, has been exceeding its production targets since the start of 2026. In the first five months, 7,387 metres were drilled against a target of 7,191 metres, representing 102.7 per cent of the planned volume. Four new wells have also been commissioned, according to the online newspaper ‘Nebit-Gaz’. Work is currently underway at the ‘Nebitdag’, ‘Goturdepe’, ‘Barsagelmez’, ‘Demirgazyk Goturdepe’, ‘Günbatar Goturdepe’, ‘Gündogar Çeleken’ and ‘Mydar’ fields, using 12 Chinese-made drilling rigs. At the same time, the construction and equipping of new wells is continuing, as is the drilling of a further seven sites. The Department, founded in 1971 and having recently celebrated its 55th anniversary, remains one of the key divisions of the ‘Türkmennebit’ State Concern, ensuring the fulfilment of production targets.
The prospects for Turkmen-Korean partnership were discussed at the offices of ‘Nebit-Gaz’
06.07.2026In the run-up to the first ‘Central Asia–Republic of Korea’ summit, which is due to take place on 16–17 September 2026 in Seoul, information cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea is intensifying. This was reported by the news website Asmannews. In this context, Song Do-hyun, a correspondent for the South Korean news agency ‘Yonhap’, visited Turkmenistan to prepare reports on the development of the bilateral partnership. At the offices of the newspaper ‘Nebit-Gaz’, Editor-in-Chief Ussa Ussayev gave an interview to ‘Yonhap’, discussing the development of the country’s oil and gas sector. A meeting was also held with the editorial team, during which the results and prospects of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea were discussed. Among the most significant joint projects highlighted were ‘Hyundai Engineering’s involvement in the development of the ‘Galkynyş’ field, the modernisation of the Turkmenbashi Oil Refinery Complex with the participation of ‘LG International Corporation’, and the construction of the gas chemical complex in Gyyanly. Particular attention was paid to cooperation in the field of personnel training. As part of a joint project between the ‘Türkmengaz’ Group and ‘KOICA’, a modern training block for the oil and gas college, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, has been built in Mary. The meeting participants expressed their confidence that the forthcoming summit in Seoul would give new impetus to the development of Turkmen-Korean cooperation in industry, energy, education and other sectors.
The American public will be introduced to the work of a Turkmen composer
06.07.2026On 17 July, the ‘Vocal Poetry’ concert will take place in the US state of Pennsylvania, at which 22-year-old baritone Xavier Bates will perform a song cycle by the outstanding Turkmen composer Nury Halmamedov. This was reported by the news agency Orient. Pianist Bahar Annadurdyeva — a laureate of the ‘Sounds of the Dutar’ Festival named after Nury Halmamedov — will accompany him on the piano. The concert is organised by the Keystone Music Academy with the support of its director, Andrei Lyubimtsev. The programme also includes romances by Sergei Rachmaninoff. According to Xavier Bates, discovering Halmamedov’s work was a real revelation for him, and Bahar Annadurdyeva helped him prepare for the performance. The pianist is actively promoting Turkmen classical music in the USA. She is currently working on organ arrangements of works by Nury Halmamedov, and previously presented the world premiere in Pennsylvania of Mamed Huseynov’s composition ‘Paraphrase’ based on themes from the opera ‘Solomon’.
Turkmenistan implements a project to utilise solar energy in the healthcare sector
06.07.2026UNDP, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, has completed a pilot project to install two solar photovoltaic systems at the etrap hospital in the city of Yoloten, Mary velayat. This was reported by the Orient news agency. The project aims to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply to the medical facility and will serve as a model for the introduction of renewable energy sources at other healthcare facilities across the country. The use of solar energy will improve the reliability of hospital operations and contribute to the development of environmentally friendly social infrastructure.
The UN Secretary-General has appointed a new Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan
06.07.2026UN Secretary-General António Guterres, with the consent of the Government of Turkmenistan, has appointed the Chinese representative Xiaojun Grace Wang as the new UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan. This was reported by the news agency Orient. She took up her post on 1 July 2026, succeeding Dmitry Shlapachenko, who had led the mission since 2021 and has now been appointed UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan. Xiaojun Grace Wang has 28 years’ experience in the field of international development. Prior to her appointment in Ashgabat, she managed a Trust Fund at the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), and previously held senior positions at UNDP, overseeing programmes on poverty reduction, gender equality and sustainable development. The new coordinator has experience of working with landlocked developing countries and has also previously worked in international media, academia and foundations. She holds a PhD from the University of London in education and international development.
A formal reception was held in Ashgabat to mark Belarus’s Independence Day
05.07.2026A ceremony organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Turkmenistan to mark the Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus was held at the ‘Ýyldyz’ Hotel in Ashgabat. This was reported by the news agency Orient. The event was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, the Government of Turkmenistan, the business community, civil society organisations and the creative intelligentsia. Stanislav Chepurnoi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Turkmenistan, delivered a welcoming address. The diplomat noted the historical significance of 3 July — the day Minsk was liberated from the Nazi invaders in 1944 — emphasising the contribution of the Turkmen people to the Victory and the post-war reconstruction of Belarus. The Ambassador also spoke about the development of Belarusian-Turkmen cooperation. According to him, Turkmenistan will hold the chairmanship of the CIS in 2026, and in the autumn Ashgabat will host a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth, which Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is expected to attend. Cooperation continues in the fields of trade, science, technology and education. On behalf of the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the participants were welcomed by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Batyr Annayev. In his address, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the prospects for further cooperation between the two countries, including in the fields of transport and logistics, digital technologies and innovation. Following the official proceedings, a concert programme took place featuring Turkmen artists and an orchestra conducted by Resul Klychev. The musicians performed Turkmen and Belarusian pieces, including well-known songs from the repertoires of the ensembles ‘Pesnyary’, ‘Syabry’ and ‘Verasy’. The event concluded with a celebratory reception.
The ‘Digital Solution – 2026’ competition will take place in Turkmenistan
05.07.2026At a regular meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, held via video conference, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov approved a proposal to organise the ‘Digital Solution – 2026’ competition for innovative projects. This was reported by the news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden Age’. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers B. Annayev delivered a report, noting that the competition aims to identify and support talented young people engaged in software development and innovation. In 2026, the competition will feature the following categories: artificial intelligence, robotics and automation, digital medicine, education and e-learning, Smart City, ‘smart’ agricultural technologies and service systems. The most promising developments are planned to be integrated into the digitalisation of the national economy. The results of the competition and the award ceremony for the winners will take place as part of the ‘Türkmentel – 2026’ International Exhibition and Scientific Conference. Having heard the report, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that work is continuing in the country on the transition to a digital economy, emphasising the contribution of young people to the implementation of these programmes. The Head of State instructed the Deputy Prime Minister to ensure a high standard of organisation for the ‘Digital Solution – 2026’ competition.
Production at the ‘Türkmenhimiýa’ plant in Turkmenistan is set to expand
05.07.2026On 3 July, Baymyrat Annamammedov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, reported during a government meeting on measures to expand production at the enterprises of the state-owned concern ‘Türkmenhimiýa’, including the ‘Balkanabat’ iodine plant. This was reported by the state news agency TDH. It was noted that, with a view to developing the country’s chemical industry and making more efficient use of local raw materials, new, modern enterprises based on innovative technologies are being established, whilst cooperation with foreign partners is being strengthened. The Deputy Prime Minister submitted the relevant proposal to the Head of State for consideration. Having heard the report, the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, emphasised the importance of developing the chemical industry and export-oriented production, approved the initiative to establish a new, modern facility at the ‘Balkanabat’ iodine plant, and issued relevant instructions.
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