Turkmenistan targets 80 billion cubic meters of gas production in 2026

Turkmenistan plans to produce around 80 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2026, while targeting the start of gas deliveries to Afghanistan through the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline by mid-2027, according to Turkmen officials.

Maksat Babayev, Turkmenistan’s minister of state and chairman of Turkmengaz, announced the production target at a press conference in Ashgabat on Friday, following the 31st International Conference and Exhibition “Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan” (OGT 2026), Trend News Agency reported.

Officials expect gas production to remain at around 80 billion cubic meters in 2027. Turkmenistan currently supplies approximately 40 billion cubic meters of gas to China and Uzbekistan.

The country also plans to increase oil production to eight million metric tons in 2026, up from 7.5 million metric tons last year.

TAPI Pipeline Deliveries Targeted for 2027

Turkmen officials said construction of the Serhetabat-Herat section of the TAPI pipeline is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with gas deliveries to Afghanistan scheduled to begin by mid-2027. The timeline will partly depend on the readiness of the Afghan side.

The pipeline is designed to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India, creating a potential source of energy supplies for the region.

Turkmenistan Seeks to Expand Gas Exports

Turkmenistan is also exploring the Trans-Caspian gas supply route and plans to expand production capacity through further development of the Galkynysh gas field.

Meanwhile, seven companies, including firms from Austria, Germany and Türkiye, have submitted bids to develop underground natural gas storage facilities. Officials said the evaluation process is nearing completion.

Turkmen officials also reported a 40% increase in participation at OGT 2026 compared with the previous year, with around 700 international delegates from 75 countries attending the event.