Turkmenistan, EU Agree to Take Steps to Deepen Energy Cooperation

Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belgium Sapar Palavanov and Head of Cabinet to European Commissioner for Energy Stefano Grassi in a meeting agreed to take steps to deepen energy cooperation between Turkmenistan and the EU.

During the meeting, the Ambassador said Turkmenistan sees the European Union (EU) as a reliable partner in the energy sphere and reiterated its willingness to further deepen and strengthen cooperation in this area. To this end, Sapar Palvanov stressed the relevance of organizing high-level meetings.

Stefano Grassi agreed with the Turkmen envoy’s proposal and said he would support the organization of a meeting between representatives of the Turkmen Government and European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson.

The Turkmen diplomat further suggested setting up a bilateral systematic dialogue on energy matters.

Stefano Grassi proposed to organize the dialogue with the participation of specialists in the energy sector of Turkmenistan and relevant EU representatives in Brussels in March.

The Turkmen diplomat expressed gratitude to the European side for the established dialogue on the study of the European experience in reducing the impact of energy sources on the atmosphere and reducing methane emissions during their transport and use.

The Ambassador also noted that the first talks in the relevant area were successfully held last November in Ashgabat and offered to continue this practice. In this regard, the parties agreed to organize the next negotiations in this area in the near future in Brussels.

Stefano Grassi underlined that Turkmenistan has great potential for the use of solar energy and that renewable energy sources are one of the EU's priorities. Grassi also said many European energy companies are already working in this field and that these enterprises can operate in Turkmenistan as well.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Vepa Hajiyev and Matthew Baldwin, Deputy Director-General in the Directorate-General for Energy at the European Commission, in a meeting in Brussels in January exchanged views on energy cooperation between the EU and Turkmenistan.