Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov has approved a plan to prepare a draft framework agreement between Turkmenistan and the EU in the field of energy, Altyn Asyr TV reports.
It is planned to create a joint working group and organise regular visits of EU representatives to the country this year. This was discussed at the latest government meeting. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov reported on the results of his working visit to EU countries.
In particular, a number of documents were signed in Brussels (Belgium), including an Additional Protocol to the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European Union.
In addition, a round table was organised with the participation of representatives of the EU, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, research centres and major European companies.
Discussions focused on opportunities for cooperation in a wide range of areas, including transport, energy and renewable energy, industry, urban development, investment, trade, digitalisation and health.
Turkmenistan has the world's fourth largest proven reserves of natural gas. Its importers are China, Russia and Uzbekistan.
Experts told Daryo that the Trans-Caspian project (from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan) to Europe could be on the agenda during Berdimuhamedov's planned visit to EU headquarters.
The 300km gas pipeline project from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan has become relevant after the EU decided to wean itself off its critical dependence on Gazprom because of the situation in Ukraine. Turkmenistan, for its part, built a 700km linear gas pipeline to the Caspian Sea coast from Galkynysh back in 2015. Ashgabat said at the time that it was ready to supply Europe with up to 30bn cubic metres of gas a year.
Eziz Boyarov
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