More Investment Needed To Boost Global Energy Security, Turkmenistan Tells UN
New York, Sep 29 2008 10:10PM
Ensuring global energy security requires stepped-up investment, a top official from Turkmenistan, one of the world’s
major oil and natural gas producers, told the final day of the General Assembly’s high-level annual debate.
As a top producer, the Central Asian country takes part in increasing international cooperation regarding energy, Rashid
Meredov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, said.
“Turkmenistan’s policy aimed at diversifying supplies of hydrocarbon raw materials and ensuring energy security has
become an important element of this approach,” he noted.
“It is apparent that major investments are needed for developing [an] effective and stable system of global energy
security and that [a] considerable share of those investments should be directed towards transportation of hydrocarbons
and protection of energy infrastructure.”
Other key factors in guaranteeing adequate supplies to the world include political stability and global markets, Mr.
Meredov told delegates.
He said that another component, the security of international pipelines, will lead to “a decrease in their vulnerability
from the impact of natural and man-made disasters, likely risks connected to changes in the military-political situation
in certain regions of the world, threats from international terrorists and unauthorized siphoning of transported energy
resources."
The official said that Turkmenistan has launched an initiative to create an international agreement, under United
Nations auspices, on the security of international pipelines.
ENDS