ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- A scheduled visit by executives from Chevron and Total is indicative of the long-term energy potential for Turkmenistan, a government leader said.
Baymurat Hodzhamuhammedov, the deputy prime minister of Turkmenistan, said his country was expecting a visit by executives from Chevron and Total "in the near future," the Turkmen news agency Turkmenistan.ru reports.
The energy companies, he added, were keen to develop the Turkmen waters of the energy-rich Caspian Sea.
"The visit of the senior leadership of Chevron and Total aims to consolidate their partnership with Turkmenistan and make them long-term and targeted," he added.
The Italian company Eni noted in June that Turkmenistan plays a "key role" in the Caspian and Central Asian energy sector as the largest gas producer in the region.
Turkmenistan started construction during the summer 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.
