Turkmenistan Recognises Malaysia’s Oil and Gas Industry
BATU KAWAN: Turkmenistan’s agreement to hand over one of the world’s largest gas reserve wells owned by them for maintenance by PETRONAS yesterday is a major recognition of Malaysia on the global stage, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister described this honour as a clear reflection of the high confidence that foreign countries have in Malaysia’s capabilities and the national oil and gas company.
“Yesterday we signed the agreement and (the Government of Turkmenistan) has decided to place two main blocks that will position Malaysia and PETRONAS to operate one of the largest gas fields in the world.
“Alhamdulillah, congratulations to the people of Malaysia. You see, with our unwavering hard work, commitment, and determination to establish meaningful relations with foreign countries, you can see the results and the immediate impact,” he said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the MKS Instruments Inc (MKS) factory here yesterday.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, described this success as being achieved through the country’s stability and peace enjoyed all this while, in addition to the strong unity among the people and the commitment of professional workers in playing their role in developing the nation.
“This honour clearly reflects the high confidence foreign countries have in Malaysia, resulting from the peace we enjoy, the solid unity of the people, and the dedication of companies like PETRONAS.
“This also proves the perseverance of our workers who are always committed to developing the country,” he said.
Anwar emphasised that these developments also prove that Malaysia’s approach of prioritising good relations between nations and strategic cooperation can provide direct economic benefits to the people.
Proof of PETRONAS’s commitment
He added that this success is the result of long-term commitment, with PETRONAS having operated in Turkmenistan for nearly three decades, and Anwar revealed that he himself had pushed for this expansion effort during a visit by the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, in December 2024.
“Of course I am very pleased with this achievement, because when the President came (to Malaysia) in December 2024, I told him that he should be open to allowing us to participate in this effort.
“I was in Turkmenistan at the invitation of the President, and the good news is that their level of confidence in Malaysia is very high,” he said.
The Prime Minister said strategic cooperation with Russia and Turkmenistan will also strengthen the country’s energy supply security for a long period.
Anwar said Russian President Vladimir Putin gave his assurance on a long-term agreement for the supply of oil, gas and diesel to Malaysia for a period of at least 20 years.
“This was conveyed by the Russian President during discussions in Kazan during my recent visit to that country. It reflects the strong bilateral relations and friendship between the two countries,” he said.
Anwar said this development opens up opportunities for Malaysia to gain access to one of the world’s largest gas reserves, thus securing the nation’s energy needs for the long term.
“Malaysia has gained access to gas reserves that are among the largest in the world. This means our needs are secured, Insya-Allah, for decades.
“We can also use it to increase exports to partner countries, especially China, Japan and Korea, which have high energy needs,” he said.
Anwar stressed that international relations must be leveraged to protect national interests as well as to guarantee energy supply, job opportunities and economic development for the people.
Yesterday, media reported that Malaysia and Turkmenistan agreed to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector, while expanding bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, transport, education and technology following Anwar’s official visit to that country.
In a joint statement issued after the visit, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties and exploring new areas of cooperation for mutual economic growth.
The oil and gas sector was among the main focus of discussions, with both leaders recognising PETRONAS’s three decades of operations in Turkmenistan and its contributions to the country’s energy industry.
The agreement was established following the Prime Minister’s official two-day visit to Turkmenistan beginning June 18 and 19 at the invitation of Berdimuhamedov, which also served as a reciprocal visit following the Turkmen leader’s official visit to Malaysia in December 2024.
The visit was Anwar’s first official visit to Turkmenistan and the fifth by a Malaysian Prime Minister.
PETRONAS began operations in Turkmenistan in 1996 and subsequently grew into an enduring cooperation between the two countries.
Berita Harian