On June 15, the capital of Turkmenistan hosted the International Scientific Conference “Energy Prospects, New Technologies for the Development of Hydrocarbon Deposits”.  The conference was organized by the State Concerns "Turkmengas" and "Turkmennebit", the State Corporation "Turkmengeology" in partnership with the ES "Turkmen Forum" and the British company Gaffney Cline.

 The event, held at the Yagshygeldi Kakaev International University of Oil and Gas, was attended by more than 800 delegates from 20 countries, some of whom participated online.  Among the forum participants are representatives of well-known oil and gas companies, including CNPC, BP, Exxon Mobil, Petronas, ADNOC, Mitro International, Buried Hill, NAPECO, Dragon Oil, ENI, Lukoil.

 The International Energy Agency (IRENA), the Global Gas Center, the Forum of Gas Exporting Countries, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Energy Charter Secretariat, as well as the UN, the OSCE, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development sent their delegates to the forum.

 Opening the conference, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Dmitry Shlapachenko stressed the importance of the forum held in Ashgabat and thanked the organizers of the event for the successful preparatory work.

 The focus of the conference program was on the reduction of environmental emissions from the development of hydrocarbons and the energy transition.  The delegates also discussed the application of new technologies in the fuel and energy complex, as well as the possibility of additional environmental financing and initiatives to promote clean energy.

 The forum participants listened with interest to the informative speeches of the Deputy Chairman of the State Concern "Turkmengas" M.Archaev, Advisor on Climate Issues of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan M.Akmuradov, Rector of the Yagshygeldi Kakaev International University of Oil and Gas B.Atamanov, Chairman of the Board of the State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan R. Jepbarov.

As climate adviser of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Makhtumkuli Akmuradov noted at the forum, within the framework of a joint project of Turkmenistan and the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO), it is planned to conduct scientific research on reducing methane emissions, as well as work on improving national environmental legislation.  Also, within the framework of the project, it is planned to conduct a series of trainings for Turkmen specialists.

 “We hope that by the start of the 28th annual Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which will be held in Dubai this year, Turkmenistan will come with good and concrete results on this issue,” Akmuradov said.

 The leaders of the foreign companies PETRONAS Carigali (Turkmenistan) and Yug-Neftegaz Private Limited, as well as representatives of the Global Green Growth Institute, the International Observatory on Methane Emissions and other organizations shared their vision of resolving environmental problems in the development of hydrocarbon fields with the conference participants.

 The presentations of experts at the session discussions on the problems of “reducing methane and carbon dioxide emissions from hydrocarbon production” and “new opportunities for environmental financing and initiatives in promoting clean energy” were also informative.

 A representative of the energy corporation Turkmenenergo shared about plans to build solar power plants in remote settlements of Turkmenistan, noting that at the first stage their total capacity will be more than 6 MW.

 The organizers of the event created for the delegates all the necessary conditions for holding discussion events and a fruitful exchange of views on topical issues submitted for consideration by the conference.