The fourth phase of industrial development at Turkmenistan's Galkynysh gas field in the Mary region has been formally launched by Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty. This collaborative step underscores a sustained commitment to expanding Turkmenistan's energy output and enhancing its principal export relationship.
Situated approximately 400 kilometres southeast of Ashgabat, the Galkynysh field has been a cornerstone of Turkmenistan's natural gas production since 2013. Its immense scale positions it among the world's largest gas fields, crucial for the nation's energy strategy.
British consulting firm GaffneyCline estimates Galkynysh, with neighbouring Garakol and Yashlar fields, holds 27.4 trillion cubic meters of natural gas. Such prodigious reserves underpin Turkmenistan’s long-term energy export ambitions.
The April 16 contract between State Concern Turkmengas and China’s CNPC Amudarya Petroleum Company Ltd. formalised this fourth phase. It encompasses drilling new production wells and constructing a gas processing facility with 10 billion cubic meters of annual commercial gas capacity.
Industry publication Nebit-Gaz details the field’s methodical phased development. Its first phase, establishing three gas processing plants totalling 30 billion cubic meters per year, is fully operational and underpins current production.
Phases Two, Three, and Four are slated for future implementation, promising a sustained ramp-up in output. Fully developed, Galkynysh’s gross annual production could reach nearly 200 billion cubic meters of natural gas.
Galkynysh’s expanded capacity primarily strengthens Turkmenistan's energy exports to China, its largest natural gas buyer. Beijing's sustained demand underscores a critical strategic partnership for Ashgabat.
The Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline system’s three lines (A, B, C) currently deliver approximately 40 billion cubic meters annually. This established infrastructure is vital for meeting a significant portion of China's energy requirements.
Planned commissioning of Line D is expected to substantially increase export volumes to around 65 billion cubic meters per year. Galkynysh’s expanded resource base is a key enabler for this significant increase in gas supplies to China.
Total Turkmen gas exports to China have surpassed 462 billion cubic meters over two decades, according to Guvanch Agajanov, Vice-Chairman of Turkmenistan's Cabinet of Ministers. This historical volume demonstrates the deep-rooted energy relationship between the two states.
Galkynysh is also the primary resource base for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline. This separate project, currently under construction, is designed for an annual capacity of 33 billion cubic meters.
This multifaceted expansion of Galkynysh fundamentally solidifies Turkmenistan's role as a pivotal energy supplier to East Asia. It directly supports China's long-term energy security requirements, ensuring a sustained and substantial supply of natural gas via overland pipelines.
Galkynysh's designation for the TAPI pipeline signals Ashgabat's strategic ambition to diversify its export routes. This project, though still under construction, offers a potential 33 billion cubic meters per year outlet to South Asian markets.