Six Turkmangaz officials have been arrested following the accident at the largest gas field in Turkmenistan, Galkinish, when gas supplies to Uzbekistan were halted. This was reported by Turkmennews.
Shohrat Ajdarov, head of "Turkmangaz" Material-Technical Resources and Equipment Department, and Shohrat Chopanov, acting head of "Turkmangazakdirish" association ("Turkmentransgaz") are among the detained. According to Turkmennews' source in the country's government, the head of "Turkmangaz" Botir Amanov and his deputy Otamurod Charev have managed to avoid punishment so far.
They are said to be responsible for the failure of "Turkmangaz" and the loss of its position in the international market. The investigation of the General Prosecutor's Office showed that the amount of damage caused during the six days after the forced stoppage of gas supply from the Galkinish field to Uzbekistan amounted to 59.7 million dollars. In addition, Turkmenistan faces a fine for not supplying gas to China.
Since January 12, Turkmenistan has stopped supplying gas to Uzbekistan due to technical problems at the Galkinish field. Extreme cold caused the formation of hydrate in the mine which led to the export of gas to China through the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline to diminish.
On January 13, Serdar Berdimuhamedov severely reprimanded the deputy minister in charge of the oil and gas industry Shahim Abdrahmonov and the head of "Turkmangaz" Botir Amanov with a final warning. The exact reasons for the president's protest were not given, but Abdurahmanov and Amanov were fined for technical failures at the field, which may have been the reason for the stoppage of gas exports.
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