ASHGABAT, March 2 - Turkmenistan, Central Asia's largest gas producer, said on Tuesday it expected foreign energy investment, which is almost all under production sharing agreements (PSAs), to rise by more than 46 percent this year.
The former Soviet republic's PSA partners include London-listed Dragon Oil (DGO.L) and Chinese state firm CNPC.
Yagshigeldy Kakayev, the head of the state agency in charge of hydrocarbon resources, said PSA investment would rise to $4.1 billion this year from $2.8 billion in 2009.
"Turkmenistan is interested in significant investment into strategic sectors... from exploration to shipping," Kakayev told a British-Turkmen business forum.
Analysts say foreign investment in Turkmenistan is limited by the government's policy of offering only risky offshore blocks to foreigners and retaining development rights to more lucrative onshore fields.
Turkmenistan's energy sector took a hit last year after key gas buyer Russia halted imports, seeking a lower price. Supplies to Russia restarted this year along with shipments via new pipelines to China and Iran.
The former Soviet republic's PSA partners include London-listed Dragon Oil (DGO.L) and Chinese state firm CNPC.
Yagshigeldy Kakayev, the head of the state agency in charge of hydrocarbon resources, said PSA investment would rise to $4.1 billion this year from $2.8 billion in 2009.
"Turkmenistan is interested in significant investment into strategic sectors... from exploration to shipping," Kakayev told a British-Turkmen business forum.
Analysts say foreign investment in Turkmenistan is limited by the government's policy of offering only risky offshore blocks to foreigners and retaining development rights to more lucrative onshore fields.
Turkmenistan's energy sector took a hit last year after key gas buyer Russia halted imports, seeking a lower price. Supplies to Russia restarted this year along with shipments via new pipelines to China and Iran.
