OREANDA-NEWS. May 04, 2010. The Conference on Enhancing Regional Cooperation in Central Asia to Ensure Sustainable and Reliable Energy in Eurasia is opened in the Turkmen capital. The representative forum organized by the Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has brought together more than 120 participants from over 20 countries representing the world’s leading oil and gas companies, the sectoral departments of our country and the diplomatic missions and international organisations accredited to Turkmenistan, Turkmen and foreign news agencies.

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted in his welcoming statement to forum participants that Turkmenistan’s energy approach involved the guarantees of stable and reliable energy transit to the world markets and this policy was based on the need to concert efforts of nations of the world to ensure security of energy transit. Abiding by the open door policy Turkmenistan stood for stability and progress across the world and the region.

An interest in the conference is apparent and natural. As the issues of global energy security that Turkmenistan’s international initiatives are aimed at and the need for international safeguards of reliable transit of energy are of particular concern for all – energy producers, energy transit countries and consumers.

As is known, our country put forward the initiative of the Resolution on the Reliable and Stable Transit of Energy and Its Role in Ensuring Sustainable Development and International Cooperation that was unanimously adopted at the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly. This critical document, in fact, urged the world community to develop the international regulatory framework that would ensure reliable energy transit. For this purpose in view the Turkmen capital hosted a number of the international forums aimed at designing the action plan to ensure reliable and stable energy transport process. The conference, which started its work in the conference hall of the President Hotel, is a new step on this path.

Turkmenistan’s commitment to diversification of energy transit is supported all over the world because expansion of energy export infrastructure and achievement of stability of energy transit are a key to global sustainable development and international cooperation. Today, our country has launched development of large natural gas deposits including the Southern Yoloten-Osman field that is known all over the world for its huge reserves and serves as another evidence of the existence of substantial hydrocarbon resources in Turkmenistan that enable to meet the old needs as well as develop new markets.

Starting to supply energy along two new export routes in the past six months our country created new realities of the geography of energy flows on the Eurasian continent. These include the XXI century project – Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline and the second branch of the gas pipeline to Iran (Dovletabat-Hangeran). These projects that were implemented in the shortest period of time supplemented the existing configurations of energy transit to the world markets. At present, the possibilities for construction several gas arteries are under study for Turkmenistan and its partners are interested in expanding the geography of energy flows.

Through implementing large-scale projects Turkmenistan gains strength as an exporter of energy to the world markets. The conference participants were unanimous that the activities aimed at diversifying energy transit and employing the profound potential of the country contributed to achieving global energy security.

Addressing the forum Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, OSCE Secretary-General emphasized that the Ashgabat conference was a new step towards reliability and stability of energy transit on the continent that the OSCE intended to contribute further and Turkmenistan as one of the largest oil and gas producers in the world appeared on the global arena as an initiator of concerted efforts to ensure sustainable energy transit.

Among the key issues addressed by the Conference were the role of the Eurasian continent in the global system of energy security, the principles and guidelines for developing stable energy market. During two days conference participants will be searching for the ways to ensure reliable and stable energy transport process and develop cooperation in this field as well as designing the relevant international regulatory framework.

Undoubtedly, Turkmenistan’s international initiatives are welcomed across the world, and the fact that Ashgabat again became the venue for the international forum on energy security proves that to the full extent. By standing steadfast to its international commitments, our country has earned an established reputation of a dependable partner on energy market.