At the TEIF 2025 investment forum in Kuala Lumpur, State Minister, Chairman of the State Concern "Turkmengas" Maksat Babayev proposed considering investments in a number of strategically important areas of the country's energy sector, including the development of new stages of the largest gas field "Galkynysh".

Maksat Babayev emphasized that Turkmenistan, which ranks fourth in the world in proven natural gas reserves, is ready to play a key role in the global energy transition.

In his speech, the Chairman of the State Concern "Turkmengas" noted the strategic goal of Turkmenistan - the creation of a modern, flexible and competitive energy system capable of effectively responding to the challenges of the global energy transition.

According to Maksat Babayev, natural gas will play a decisive role in meeting the growing global demand for energy, which, according to the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, will increase by 18% by 2050. During this period, the share of natural gas in the global energy balance will increase from 23% to 26%, and in the sustainable development scenario - to 28%, primarily due to the displacement of coal as a stable source of electricity.

The Asia-Pacific region will be the main driver of growth in demand for natural gas, providing 53% of the additional volume by 2050. This growth is due to rapid economic development and globalization, which increase the need for reliable and clean energy, the head of Turkmengas said.

As Babayev noted, the reserves of the Galkynysh field together with nearby fields are estimated at more than 27 trillion cubic meters of gas, making it one of the largest onshore gas fields in the world.

According to the head of "Turkmengas", the first stage of development of this field with a capacity of 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year has already been completed, the second stage will increase gas exports to China.

Among other areas for investment, the minister named the development of the next stages of the Galkynysh field, optimization of hydrocarbon production at mature fields, construction of an underground gas storage facility with a capacity of 5 billion cubic meters, and contracts for large industrial projects.

Maksat Babayev noted that China is currently the largest consumer of Turkmen gas, with supplies through three existing gas pipeline lines exceeding 30 billion cubic meters per year. Upon completion of the fourth line, the volume of supplies may reach 65 billion cubic meters. In addition to China, Turkmenistan exports gas to Uzbekistan, and also carries out swap deliveries through Iran to Turkey. This geography of exports underscores the commercial flexibility and geostrategic importance of Turkmenistan as a link between the East and the West.

The Minister also stressed the importance of implementing the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, which is designed to supply natural gas to countries with a total population of 1.75 billion people. According to him, the 214-kilometer section in Turkmenistan has already been completed, and the construction of the 153-kilometer Afghan section from Turghundi to Herat, which received the symbolic name "Arkadagyň ak ýoly", has already begun. According to experts, the gas pipeline will create about 12 thousand jobs in Afghanistan and will contribute to solving humanitarian problems. Maksat Babayev emphasized the environmental importance of Turkmen gas, noting that 30 billion cubic meters of Turkmen natural gas annually supplied to China can replace up to 50 million tons of coal, preventing the emission of more than 60 million tons of greenhouse gases.  "These are not just numbers. This is a real contribution to improving air quality, reducing climate risks and creating a sustainable future for the entire region," said the head of "Turkmengas".