Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held high-level talks today in Ashgabat during the Prime Minister’s two-day official visit. The meeting focused primarily on strengthening bilateral ties within the strategic oil and gas sector.
The high-level talks coincided with the launch of a two-day energy conference titled “Turkmenistan–Malaysia: 30 Years of Mutually Beneficial Cooperation in the Oil and Gas Sector,” where both leaders delivered opening addresses to industry delegates.
A New Phase in Caspian Integration: Key Agreements Signed
The principal outcome of the summit was the signing of a comprehensive package of agreements. These deals significantly expand the footprint of Malaysia’s state-owned energy giant, PETRONAS, on the Turkmen shelf of the Caspian Sea and lay the groundwork for future capital investments:
- New Production Sharing Agreement (PSA): A landmark PSA was signed for the exploration and development of offshore Blocks 19 and 20 in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea. The signatories included Turkmenistan’s state oil company Türkmennebit, the Hazarnebit state enterprise, and Petronas Carigali (Turkmenistan) Sdn. Bhd. The document was executed by Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister Guvanch Agajanov and Mohd Jukris Abdul Wahab, PETRONAS Executive Vice President & CEO of Upstream.
- Seismic Exploration Data: Türkmennebit and Petronas Carigali concluded an agreement on cooperation for 2D seismic studies. The seismic surveys will cover prospective offshore Blocks 11, 12, 13, and 14. The deal was signed by Deputy PM Guvanch Agajanov and Mohd Jukris Abdul Wahab.
- State concern Türkmengaz and Petronas Carigali entered into a confidentiality agreement, paving the way for deeper exchange of technical and geological data. The document was signed by Maksat Babayev, State Minister and Chairman of Türkmengaz, and Mohd Jukris Abdul Wahab.
- A foundational Intergovernmental Agreement on Long-Term Cooperation in Hydrocarbon Resource Development was signed by Turkmenistan’s Deputy PM Guvanch Agajanov and Malaysian Minister of Economy Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.