On Wednesday, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held a working meeting with the participation of the heads of the financial, economic and oil and gas complexes, at which the tasks for the further economic development of the country in 2022 were discussed.

 During the meeting, the Chairman of the State Corporation «Turkmengeology» M. Roziev reported on the results of exploration work in order to increase the volume of natural gas production through the exploration and development of new fields.

 As M. Rozyev noted, it is planned to conduct seismological studies in the areas of Demirgazyk-Derwush, Gunorta-Mary, and the Malay gas field.  Also, according to the plans for drilling deep wells, it is planned to start exploratory drilling of wells to clarify gas reserves in these areas.

 The State Minister – Chairman of the State Concern «Turkmengas» B. Amanov reported on the ongoing work at a number of gas fields in the country on drilling development and appraisal wells, commissioning fields, as well as increasing gas production through the full use of production wells.

 During the meeting, Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Sh. Abdrakhmanov said that, in accordance with the instructions of the leader of the nation, work is currently being carried out at an accelerated pace in the country to increase the volume of natural gas and oil production, develop oil and gas fields, and drilling is underway in new identified areas.  At the same time, the material and technical base of all divisions of the fuel and energy complex is being strengthened, and highly qualified specialists in demand for the industry are being trained.

 At the meeting, Vice-Chairman Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who is in charge of the financial sector, submitted for consideration by the head of state a draft resolution on providing financial support to the State Concern «Turkmengas» and the State Corporation «Turkmengeology» in order to further develop the oil and gas industry.

 As Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted, given the importance of the oil and gas complex for the country's economy and for the further development of the industry, he came to a decision to issue funds to Turkmengas in the amount of 159 million 530 thousand 900 manats and to Turkmengeology in the amount of 75 million manats.

 According to the decree of the President of the country, the Central Bank of Turkmenistan was ordered to allocate credit funds to the Joint-Stock Commercial Bank «Turkmenbashi» for lending to the State Corporation «Turkmengas» and the State Corporation «Turkmengeology» «in order to finance the work provided for increasing the volume of natural gas production through the exploration and development of oil and gas fields».

 The head of the state noted that particular importance should be attached to the commissioning of additional gas fields, the full provision of domestic consumers with natural gas and increasing the country's gas export opportunities.

 Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also instructed Turkmengas to constantly monitor the increase in demand for Turkmen natural gas and, accordingly, draw up a work plan for its production in the near and long term.  The demand of the country's consumers for natural gas should be fully satisfied, the Turkmen leader continued, emphasizing the importance of fulfilling in full the contractual obligations for the supply of Turkmen natural gas to foreign markets.

 The President also noted that in recent years, the country's fuel and energy complex has paid special attention to international cooperation.  In this regard, the production capacity and export potential of the industry are consistently increasing.  This is of great importance both for strengthening the power of the national economy and for improving the social and living standards of the people, the nation's leader said, addressing the Vice-Chairman with specific instructions on the implementation of work in this direction.