Turkmenistan Seeks New Gas Market in Tajikistan Amid Diversification Efforts

Turkmenistan's efforts to diversify its gas exports have led it to consider Tajikistan as a potential new market, according to recent developments. The country has the world's fourth-largest natural gas reserves but still relies heavily on China for its exports.

During meetings with President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in August 2023, the presidents of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan agreed to cooperate on supplies of natural gas, oil, petroleum products, and electricity. They instructed their energy ministries to discuss joint projects.

At the time, Meredov identified Uzbekistan and Tajikistan as priority markets in the region, with a plan to increase gas production by at least 60 billion cubic meters in the coming years. Turkmengaz and UzGasTrade subsequently agreed on annual supplies of up to 2 billion cubic meters under a short-term contract.

Tajikistan cannot replace China as a market for Turkmen gas, but it is seen as a smaller alternative with a shorter route. The main route runs east through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, carrying around 30 billion cubic meters of gas to China each year via the Central Asia, China pipeline.