AWASAR, Turkmenistan, June 3 (UPI) -- Italian energy company Eni is interested in expanding new opportunities in Turkmenistan, the chief executive officer said on the Turkmen coast.
Paolo Scaroni met with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the Caspian coastal city of Awasar. Eni in a statement said the focus of the meeting was exploring new initiatives in energy cooperation.
The Italian company noted that Turkmenistan plays a "key role" in the Caspian and Central Asian energy sector as the largest gas producer in the region.
Turkmenistan this week started construction of a $2 billion natural gas pipeline to link natural reserves to the Caspian region.
Ashgabat said the purpose of the pipeline was to improve gas supplies for domestic consumers and bring diversity to the Turkmen gas export markets.
Energy officials at an energy conference in Azerbaijan said gas from Turkmenistan could contribute to the Nabucco gas pipeline for Europe.
