The national gas company of Kazakhstan QazaqGaz and the natural gas producer of Turkmenistan Türkmengaz (Turkmen Gas) signed a contract for the import of Turkmen natural gas to Kazakhstan.
This was announced by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in a joint press briefing with President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the conclusion of the talks in Astana on Saturday, the Press Service of the President of Kazakhstan said in its statement.
Tokayev said the prospects for mutually beneficial partnership between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in the gas industry have been discussed in detail.
Informing of the conclusion of the contract between the countries’ gas companies, the Head of Kazakhstan expressed gratitude to his Turkmen counterpart for his personal support in promoting this project.
“We are interested in signing a long-term agreement and are ready to increase the volume of gas imports up to 1.5 billion cubic meters per year," Kassym-Jomart Tokayev added.
President Tokayev stated that Kazakhstan intends to participate in major energy initiatives of Turkmenistan, as well as to share experiences and develop mutually beneficial projects in gas processing and gas chemistry.
The talks also considered the prospects of Kazakh wheat exports to the Turkmen market and the construction of a grain terminal on the Turkmen-Afghan border.
During the briefing, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov stated with satisfaction the results of the bilateral talks and invited the President of Kazakhstan to pay a state visit to Turkmenistan at any time convenient for him.
Turkmenistan is one of the largest gas resource holders in the Caspian region and has the world's fourth largest proven natural gas reserves. It currently exports its natural gas to China, Russia and Azerbaijan.
