Oil Diplomacy Blog: Global Perspectives on Foreign Oil and Gas Issues

Is Turkmenistan really a 'global player'?

Turkmenistan "remains as an important player in the global energy market for many years to come," said George A. Krol, US deputy assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs.

"Turkmenistan, with its geographical location, can play a unique role in the regional and global security, whereas its huge hydrocarbon resources, with the diversification of export routes, can reach many countries of the world," Krol told delegates at the "Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan - 2009" conference in Asgabat.

In an apparent reference to Russia, Krol also noted that "too much dependence on a single supplier or transit route creates both economic and political vulnerability and can result in failures with supplies and loss of revenues for energy producers."

Earlier, while assessing Turkmenistan's energy policy, Kroll confirmed the intention of the US business community to step up fruitful contacts with Turkmen partners in the oil and gas industry.

What is your response? Do you think Kroll is overstating the case for Turkmenistan? Or do you think his views are sound? Is Turkmenistan going to become a major player in the global energy market? If so, how soon and what are the obstacles?

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posted by: noreply@blogger.com

091118 :Is Turkmenistan really a 'global player'?

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Eric Watkins
OGJ Oil Diplomacy Blog
by Eric Watkins

Eric Watkins joined Oil & Gas Journal in 2001 as Middle East Correspondent and now serves as its Oil Diplomacy Editor, drawing out the industry’s political implications. His column Watching the World appears weekly in Oil & Gas Journal, while his news articles appear daily on Oil & Gas Journal Online. Eric’s work is based on his experience as a correspondent in the Middle East, Europe, and Central Asia. He lived in Saudi Arabia, 1981-88; Yemen, 1989-94; the UK, 1988-89 and 1994-2000; and Cyprus, 2000-04. Additional assignments have taken him to Africa, the Arabian Gulf, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.

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