The Effect of The Gas Export Challenges to The Development of Turkmenistan's Domestic Natural Gas Industry

Abstract

As one the countries that has major natural gas reserves, Turkmenistan’s natural gas exports were never undisputed. From these export challenges, this thesis focuses on the ones that occurred because of the external powers and natural gas exporting countries. The existing literature on Turkmen natural gas industry is mainly about its export routes, challenges, and the connection between FDI and the political regime while creating gap regarding the status and potential of the domestic gas processing industry. In the first chapter, thesis gives chronological order of disputes in each export route of Turkmen gas, while in the second chapter, these challenges were analyzed through realist theory with special focus on great power relations. Third chapter departs from realist assumptions and gives information about Turkmenistan’s backup plan in the light continued export obstacles. This thesis assumes that Turkmenistan diversifies its domestic natural gas-to-product industry capacity and produce more gas originated products as backup strategy for natural gas usage.