ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao discussed energy cooperation during a recent meeting in Ashgabat.
Wen visited Ashgabat last weekend and talks centered on economic cooperation in the fuel and energy sector.
Berdymukhamedov said 17 Chinese companies are operating in Turkmenistan and the two countries are involved in about 46 investment projects worth $920.5 million.
Berdymukhamedov said the figures would increase drastically when the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline project is implemented. The pipeline project will transmit up to 30 billion cubic meters of Turkmen natural gas annually to China over the next 30 years.
China has received the license for exploration and development of the deposits on the right bank of the Amudarya River, and Turkmenistan is conducting the feasibility study on construction of Malay-Bagtyyralyk gas pipeline.
Berdymukhamedov said the Chinese oil and gas companies operating in Turkmenistan that supply oil-field equipment to the country, drill wells and perform well work overs might consider increasing their production rates.
