Turkmenistan and Malaysia are entering a new stage of strategic cooperation in the energy sector. On 12 May, the National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, held a meeting with Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican, the Chair of the Policy Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
The central theme of the talks was the strengthening of the Malaysian giant Petronas’s position in the Turkmen market, with a focus on a landmark event—the 30th anniversary of the company’s operations in the country.
It is noteworthy that the guest is a prominent figure in the global energy industry: Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican possesses over 40 years of experience in the energy sector, finance, and management. He served as the President & CEO of Petronas from 1995 until his retirement in February 2010 and currently serves as the Adviser to Petronas.
Energy: From the Caspian to the Galkynysh Field
The fuel and energy complex remains the foundation of bilateral relations. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highly praised the contribution of Petronas to the development of the Turkmen shelf of the Caspian Sea and the training of qualified specialists for the industry.
A key item on the meeting’s agenda was the discussion of plans to expand the geographical footprint of Malaysian capital. Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican expressed the Malaysian side’s interest in participating in the development of the giant Galkynysh gas field to increase the volume of commercial gas production.
Highlighting the importance of these proposals, Berdimuhamedov emphasized the advisability of directing partners’ efforts toward the implementation of new projects in the gas chemical industry. In this regard, Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican confirmed the company’s readiness to submit relevant proposals.
New Agreements
During the meeting, the strategic significance of signing the Protocol on Commercial Terms between the State Concern “Türkmennebit” and “Petronas Carigali (Turkmenistan) Sdn. Bhd” was underscored.
This document paves the way for a key event during the upcoming official visit of the Prime Minister of Malaysia to Turkmenistan—the signing of a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) between the State Concern “Türkmennebit” and “Petronas Carigali (Turkmenistan) Sdn. Bhd.”
A specialized scientific-practical conference and an exhibition dedicated to Turkmen-Malaysian relations are also scheduled to take place during the visit.
Humanitarian Vector and Digital Transformation
Beyond the energy sector, the parties noted the dynamic growth in education: the enrollment of Turkmen students in Malaysian universities is recognized as a vital factor in preparing specialists for Turkmenistan’s modernizing economy.
The National Leader of the Turkmen people also expressed firm conviction in the steady growth of partnership regarding the implementation of digital technologies in production, the modernization of energy-saving systems, and the strengthening of environmental safety.