Team Leader: Mr. Jeff Smele

Address: 102 Makhtumkuli ave.,  744000 Ashgabat. Tel.: (99312) 353725. Tel/Fax:(99312) 357134. E-mail: jsmele@online.tm

Turkmenistan has considerable reserves of natural resources, many of which have been identified but so far not exploited. Turkmengeologia has conducted a thorough survey of the mineral resources, mostly industrial minerals, of the country and has published its findings.

Additionally Turkmenistan has vast reserves of gas, the production potential of which far exceeds its domestic demand and its present export possibilities.

One of the options being investigated by the government of Turkmenistan is to use the energy potential of the country for the transformation of other natural resources, including mineral resources, into domestically usable or exportable products.

The government of Turkmenistan has thus requested technical assistance within the framework of the European Commission's TACIS Programme in this evaluation and this assistance will be directed to the Ministry of Oil & Gas Industry and Mineral Resources.

GK Turkmengeologia and GK Turkmendokhunhimiya are both State Concerns and fall under the responsibility of the Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers responsible for the oil and gas complex. The Ministry of Oil & Gas Industry and Mineral Resources is responsible for policy development and co-ordination in the sector.

The overall objectives will be to foster the development of additional uses for the energy resources of Turkmenistan, through the transformation of industrial raw materials into other locally usable or exportable products.

The specific objectives will be:

• Evaluate the potential for alunite ore exploitation towards the development of a local aluminium industry in Turkmenistan

• Evaluate the development potential of the mineral resources of the Kara-Bogaz-Gol region;

• Evaluate the development potential of the overall mineral resources base of Turkmenistan;

• Evaluate the potential for production of fertilizers.

The official beneficiary of the project will be the Ministry of Oil & Gas Industry and Mineral Resources of Turkmenistan. Turkmengeologia and Turkmendokhunhimiya will be the main project partner organisations. The Ministry of Energy can be invited to the training component and other components where appropriate.