Turkmenistan more than doubled its natural gas output in 2000 to 47 billion cubic meters (bcm), according to the state news agency on January 8th.
The Central Asian government intends to boost gas output for 2001 to 70-75 bcm, with planned increases to 85 bcm by 2005 and to 120 bcm by 2010. The jump in production levels reflects increasing exports, primarily to Russia.
Turkmenistan had produced over 80 bcm during the Soviet era, with nearly all of that exported through the Russian pipeline network.
Pricing disputes between Moscow and Ashgabat in the early 1990s led to a slump in Turkmen exports, and correspondingly, output, but the row has been resolved and Russia has greatly increased its purchases.
Exports to Ukraine and Iran have also increased, and Turkmenistan plans to boost export capacity in order to accommodate its increased production.
Ashgabat hopes to export 70 bcm by 2005 and 100 bcm by 2010, but this will largely depend on increased demand from its customers.
Handollah Mohammad-Nejat, director of state National Iranian Gas Co., said that his country would like to increase imports of Turkmen gas to 13 bcm per year from the current 8 bcm.
Turkmenistan also expects crude production to increase to 10 million tonnes in 2001 from 7.1 million tonnes in 2000 and 7.3 million tonnes in 1999.
The rise in oil output will come from new wells in the country’s western region. The former Soviet state anticipates crude production to climb to 48 million tonnes a year by 2010.
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
