Malaysia Expands Its Presence in Turkmenistan’s Energy Market
Malaysia intends to elevate its energy partnership with Turkmenistan to a qualitatively new level, unlocking significant commercial opportunities for companies in the service, engineering, and technology sectors. This was announced by Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Economy, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, on the sidelines of the "Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan – 2026" (OGT 2026) international conference and exhibition in Ashgabat.
The Malaysian side has emphasized its readiness to go beyond merely supplying equipment and services to the oil and gas sector; instead, it aims to act as a long-term partner, focusing on the localization of high-tech manufacturing, technology transfer, and the training of skilled personnel. According to the Deputy Minister, 20 Malaysian companies are represented at OGT 2026. For the first time, a national pavilion for Malaysia has been established at the Ashgabat exhibition, where seven leading service enterprises are showcasing their solutions and developments under the auspices of the Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC) and Petronas.
A practical step toward deepening cooperation was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the State Concern "Turkmennebit" (Turkmen Oil) and a Malaysian petroleum resources corporation. The document is intended to facilitate the introduction of advanced Malaysian service technologies and equipment into Turkmenistan’s oil production sector. This agreement builds upon the institutional framework established during the official visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to Ashgabat and serves as a logical extension of the 30-year presence of the company Petronas on the Turkmen shelf of the Caspian Sea.
The business agenda for the Malaysian delegation’s visit included bilateral meetings with Guvanch Agajanov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan; Maksat Babayev, State Minister and Chairman of the State Concern "Turkmengaz" (Turkmen Gas); Mammetguly Astanagulov, Minister of Finance and Economy; as well as executives from international operators Dragon Oil and Eni Turkmenistan.
A special round table on energy cooperation between Turkmenistan and Malaysia is also scheduled for October 23, which will help translate these agreements into concrete contracts and joint service projects.
