President Niyazov inaugurated a gas dehydration unit in Doshoguz province that brings Turkmenistan closer to achieving the capacity to export 100 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas annually. During a working visit to Doshoguz province, Niyazov opened a gas-drying unit at the Daryalyk compressor station. Daryalyk is the starting point of a long journey that Turkmen natural gas makes on its way to Russia, Ukraine and Europe. The unit, built at a cost of US $23 million, can dehydrate 75 bcm of gas annually. The project took about 15 months to complete. It offers automatic control and management of the entire process. The unit has created 75 new job vacancies.

Pall GmbH (Germany), Sulzer Chemtech AG (Switzerland), PetrogasAsia (Ukraine) and Enex Process SA (Belgium) participated in the project along with Turkmen engineers. Modern equipment from General Electric and Honeywell (USA) and KSR Kubler (Germany) has been used in the facility.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Niyazov said that by 2007 Turkmenistan would achieve a gas export capacity of 100 bcm per annum by reconstruction of existing export pipelines, construction of new pipelines, and addition of necessary processing and pumping facilities. Niyazov said that Turkmenistan wants multiple export routes and would continue to introduce new technologies, develop new deposits, and generally build a reliable base for export of natural gas to the world market on a stable and long-term basis. He also mentioned that Turkmenistan offers an attractive investment climate and optimum work conditions for foreign nationals and foreign companies in the oil and gas sector.

Turkmenistan is making serious efforts to increase its gas export capacity by carrying out modernization work on the Central Asia-Center pipeline - the only existing conduit for large scale gas flow to its present markets. Expansion of gas export capacity in Turkmenistan is designed to keep pace with growing export commitments. These are likely to surge swiftly in 2007.