OGT-2022 International Investment Forum to launch in Ashgabat
We are only one day away from the beginning of OGT-2022 International Investment Forum. We look forward to welcoming you to the International Investment Forum hosted by State Concerns «Turkmennebit», «Turkmengas», «Turkmenhimiya» and State Corporation «Turkmengeology», in partnership with Turkmen Forum and UK-based GaffneyCline. The event will be held tomorrow (Tuesday 29 March) at the “Yyldyz” hotel in Ashgabat and in Turkmenistan’s pavilion at Dubai Expo.
This prestigious event will be carried out both in traditional and online formats. It aims to attract foreign investment to the energy sector of Turkmenistan, and to develop and strengthen collaboration between the national energy companies of Turkmenistan and international partners.
The impressive list of delegates includes representatives of international energy companies including CNPC, SOCAR, Dragon Oil, TAPI, Mitro International, Westport Trading Europe Limited, Haldor Topsoe, NAPECO and Yug-Neftegaz. In addition, international energy organizations including the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the International Energy Agency (IEA), the French Gas Association and the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) will also attend. The Forum’s sessions and panel discussions will also be attended by representatives of numerous international financial and banking institutions, including: The Asian Development Bank, The Islamic Development Bank and The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
The conference will be opened with the welcome address of newly elected President of Turkmenistan, His Excellency Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The plenary session will focus on the future of global energy and will include a keynote address by Batyr Amanov, Acting State Minister, Chairman of SC “Turkmengas”; Dashgyn Iskenderov, Vice President, SOCAR; Huang Yongzhang, Vice President CNPC and President of PetroChina; HE Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary General of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); Guy Lentz, Secretary General of the Energy Charter Secretariat; Natalia Gherman, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia, Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA); John MacGregor, Ambassador, Head of OSCE Centre in Ashgabat; Tim Gould, Chief Energy Economist, International Energy Agency (IEA); Mariam Almaszade, CEO, Socar Trading SA; Dmitry Shlapachenko, UN Resident Coordinator for Turkmenistan.
The first session entitled “The role of Turkmenistan in ensuring regional energy security” will be hosted in Turkmenistan’s pavilion at The World Expo in Dubai. The session will be opened by Merdan Roziyev, Acting Chairman of SC “Turkmengeology” and followed by speeches from: Serdarmammet Garajayev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to UAE; Ali Rashid Al Jarwan, Chief Executive Officer of Dragon Oil; Arno Büx, Chief Commercial Officer of Fluxys Group; Natalie Costello, Advisory Committee Director, Trans Caspian Resources, Inc.; Noha Jaheen, Owner, Founder & CEO of JAHEEN's Companies; Muhammetmyrat Amanov, CEO of TAPI Pipeline Company Limited; Nick Stronach, Senior Geoscientist of GaffneyCline.
Energy security is a key requirement for global security and has many aspects. Long-term energy security mainly deals with timely investments to supply energy in line with economic developments and environmental needs. On the other hand, short-term energy security focuses on the ability of the energy system to react promptly to sudden changes in the supply-demand balance. At the 65th session of General Assembly of the UN, the President of Turkmenistan outlined some conceptual regulations to ensure international security. In this regard, diversification of energy sources and construction of new transnational pipelines were identified as a top priority.
The Turkmen Leader used the example of the successful construction, completion and commissioning of the "Turkmenistan-China" and "Turkmenistan-Iran" gas pipelines. The "Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India" (TAPI) gas pipeline is also one of the large-scale projects of strategic regional importance. The implementation of this project is beneficial for all sides due to its multilateral importance in developing the region's economy, increasing employment, creating and improving infrastructure, plus keeping and strengthening sustainable development in the region.
Prospects for the development of offshore fields in the Caspian Sea and the latest update on the development of the world’s largest onshore gas field “Galkynysh”, located in South East Turkmenistan will also be discussed in this session.
The second session will focus on the opportunities for new era energy investment projects, and Guychgeldi Baygeldiyev, Acting Chairman of SC “Turkmennebit” will give his keynote address. The session will also see presentations from Serdar Nuryagdyev, Senior Geophysicist of SC “Turkmengeology”; Scott Foster, Director of UNECE's Sustainable Energy Division; Maksat Pirliyev, General director, NAPECO; Gurbuz Gonul – Director, Country Engagement and Partnerships, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); Matthew Wittenstein, Chief of Section for Energy Connectivity at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP); Victor Nian, Advisor, Centre for Strategic Energy and Resources, Singapore.
Other key topics which will be covered during the session will include increasing gas exports to China; accelerating the construction of ‘Line D’ of the Turkmenistan/China gas pipeline; gas as a transitional fuel; the development of solar and wind energy, and hydrogen as a fuel of the future.
The provision of accessible energy to populations, while reducing its environmental impact on the planet, is one of the 21st century’s greatest challenges and it is no coincidence that currently renewables and natural gas industries are experiencing tremendous growth. The numerous economic and environmental benefits of natural gas compared with oil and coal make it a perfect solution for the energy transition.
In order to decarbonize the energy sector, Turkmenistan is planning to implement a Roadmap for the development of international cooperation in hydrogen energy for 2022-2023. This will allow the rapid development of a new industry with a significant multiplier effect for the Turkmen economy. The National Strategy for the Development of Hydrogen Energy will involve international think tanks and research centers.
In 2021, Turkmenistan signed an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Development Fund for financing the construction of a $25 million hybrid solar-wind power plant with a capacity of 10 MW. This project will be covered in detail during the Forum. Arab Masdar, one of the world's leading companies in the field of renewable energy sources and Solar Investment, has formed a joint venture to develop clean energy projects aimed at their implementation in the CIS countries.
In Session 3, the role of financial institutions in supporting sustainable energy will be discussed. The key speakers at this session will include: Muhammetgeldi Serdarov, Acting Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan; Ibrahim Ali Shoukry, Head of Mission to Kazakhstan, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group; Chang Ching Yu, Country Director, ADB Turkmenistan Resident Mission; Sohail Hasnie, Principal Energy Specialist, ADB Central and West Asia Department; Erich Arispe, Senior Director, Fitch Ratings' Sovereigns Group; Rahimberdi Jepbarov – Chairman of the Board, The State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan.
Experts will discuss the role of IFIs in promoting clean energy, how financial institutions can support energy companies in achieving the Paris Agreement, as well as the COP 26 goals in order to limit global warming. Reducing methane and CO2 emissions, and the reduction of flaring to meet net zero, will be covered in Session 4, which is entitled: “Innovative technologies and know-how in the production of hydrocarbons and reducing associated gas emissions”.
Bayrammyrat Pirniyazov, Director of the Scientific Research Institute of Natural Gas under the SC “Turkmengas” will deliver a keynote address. Other presentations will be made by: Bayrammyrat Atamanov, Rector of International university of oil and gas named after Yagshygeldy Kakaev; Kamel Ben-Naceur, 2022 SPE President; Jonathan Stern, Professor, Distinguished Research Fellow & Founder of the Natural Gas Research Programme Oxford Institute for Energy Studies; Igor Shevchenko, Chief Technical Adviser at Mitro International Ltd.; Oleksandr Kucheruk, First Deputy Director of Yug-Neftegaz Private Limited; Chris Freeman, Technical Director, GaffneyCline; Mark Davis, CEO, Capterio.
Forum’s last session will focus on international cooperation in refining and transportation of hydrocarbons, and will see presentations of Niyazli Niyazliyev, Acting Chairman of SC "Turkmenhimiya" and other experts such as Dovran Chishiyev, General Director of Turkmenbashi Complex of Oil Refineries; Durdymyrat Gadamov, Director, Centre of Technologies of Academy of sciences of Turkmenistan; Rickard Vannby, Licensing Director, Haldor Topsoe; Rashed Al Suwaidi, Group Chairman Horizon Energy Group, Abu Dhabi, UAE; John Roberts, Energy Security Expert, United Nations.
For more information, please visit event website: www.ogt-turkmenistan.com or email: info@turkmen-forum.com
