Turkmenistan plans to more than double its natural gas exports to China to 65 bcm/year thanks to the laying of the 30 bcm/year fourth line of the China-Turkmenistan gas pipeline, currently under construction. This announcement comes after the two countries reached an agreement on developing the second stage of the Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan, which has proven commercial reserves reaching around 2,800 bcm.
Turkmenistan is China biggest supplier of natural gas with nearly 31 bcm exported in 2021, far ahead of China’s second largest supplier Russia (10 bcm/year in 2021). China is also by far Turkmenistan’s biggest client, before Russia (8.5 bcm/year).
The China-Turkmenistan gas pipeline currently has a capacity of 55 bcm/year, and once fully completed, is expected to reach a flow capacity of 85 bcm/year. The first three lines of the pipeline have been commissioned in 2009, 2010 and 2014 respectively. No set date has yet been communicated for the completion of the fourth line.