BP

BP
www.bp.com

Contact Information
International Headquarters
1 St James’s Square
London, SW1Y 4PD
T: +44 (0)20 7496 4000
F: +44 (0)20 7496 4630

History in Turkmenistan
In August 2007, the head of BP’s exploration and production operations met with Berdymukhammedov to convey the company’s interest in developing projects in Turkmenistan.[i] In an August 28, 2008 letter to Crude Accountability, a representative of BP Exploration Operating Company Limited explained, “We are currently at a very early stage regarding our activities in Turkmenistan. We are fact finding and exploring the possibility of business opportunities.”[ii] Further indicating the company’s intention to begin working in Turkmenistan, BP was the sole “Platinum Sponsor,” the highest level of sponsorship, for the 13th Turkmenistan International Oil & Gas Conference, which took place in November 2008.[iii] In February 2009, BP announced that it was in discussions with the Government of Turkmenistan regarding a Production Sharing Agreement to develop several offshore blocks.[iv] In its June 2012 global energy reserves report, BP revealed that Turkmenistan now possesses more than 11% of the world’s proven oil reserves with 24.3 trillion cubic meters.[v]

Current Scope of Operations
While there have been no reports of BP securing any contracts in Turkmenistan, the company maintains a high profile in Turkmenistan. BP was the sole “Platinum Sponsor” of the 2010 Turkmenistan International Oil and Gas Conference, a “Silver Sponsor” of the Turkmenistan Gas Conference in May 2011, and is the sole “Platinum Sponsor” of the 2012 Turkmenistan International Oil and Gas Conference.[vi]

————————————————————————————————————————-

 [i] Reuters, “BP Eyes ‘Unique’ Energy Resources of Turkmenistan,”24 Aug. 2007,http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL2476284020070824. Accessed January 14, 2011.
[ii] August 28, 2008 letter from Jonathan Popper, Performance Unit Leader, Central Asia, Russia & Central Asia Renewal Business Unit, BP Exploration Operating Company Limited to Michelle Kinman, Deputy Director, Crude Accountability.

[iii] http://www.oilgasturkmenistan.com/face/2sponsorship.php. Accessed December 2, 2008.

[iv] Elnur Ataguly, “BP Negotiating Development of Turkmenistan’s Caspian shelf,” Central Asia online, 16 Feb. 2009, http://centralasiaonline.com/cocoon/caii/xhtml/en_GB/features/caii/features/
2009/02/16/feature-04. Accessed January 14, 2011.

[v] The Moscow Times, “BP Calculates Global Energy Reserves,” The Moscow Times, June 15, 2012;http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/bp-calculates-global-energy-reserves/460361.html#ixzz1zPqqGUDt. Accessed July 2, 2012.

[vi] 17th Turkmenistan International Oil & Conference, “Sponsors,” Turkmenistan International Oil and Gas Conference; http://www.oilgasturkmenistan.com/sponsors.  Accessed July 5, 2012.