CHEVRON
www.chevron.com
Contact Information
6001 Bollinger Canyon Road, A2044
San Ramon, CA 94583-2324
T: 1 925 842 3132
F: 1 925 842 2273
Email: duec@nullchevron.com
History in Turkmenistan
In June 2007, during a meeting of company officials with Berdymukhamedov, Chevron announced its intent to open an office in Turkmenistan.[i] At the April 2008 “Oil and Gas in Turkmenistan Conference” in London, Chevron Vice President Jay Pryor gave an address during which he enthusiastically praised President Berdymukhamedov and the government of Turkmenistan for their management of the country’s hydrocarbon resources, detailed Chevron’s involvement in other Caspian countries, and concluded by saying, “Chevron would be honored to be partners with the Turkmen people in hard work, care and respect as they embrace their country’s energy future.”[ii] Chevron established an office in the country in early 2008 and, later that year, sent a set of recommendations to President-elect Obama, including advice to strengthen “non-confrontational” ties with Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan in order to ensure that Caspian energy resources reach the international marketplace.[iii] In November 2009, Chevron announced that the company was in talks with the government of Turkmenistan regarding a possible role for Chevron in the development of the South Yolotan Field. At the same time, “U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Krol said Washington wanted Turkmenistan to allow its companies to invest in onshore deposits such as South Iolotan.”[iv]
In the first half of 2010, Chevron partnered with the US Agency for International Development to sponsor programs that provided training to Turkmen specialists in the fields of tourism and international accounting standards.[v] [vi] In May 2010, Chevron CEO John Watson publicly confirmed to Crude Accountability its intent to pursue contracts in Turkmenistan, adding “I think we can do some good in Turkmenistan” even though “we may not meet your standards.”[vii] In June 2010, Chevron participated in the first American business mission to Turkmenistan, as part of the US Turkmenistan Business Council.[viii]
In August 2010, Chevron was one of four companies shortlisted by the Government of Turkmenistan to submit a proposal for developing offshore Blocks 9 and 20.[ix] President Berdymukhamedov met with Chevron Vice President Jay Pryor in New York in September 2010 for a discussion on possible future collaboration; it was reported that both parties offered compliments of the other, and that the meeting was considered a positive step by both sides. Berdymukhamedov made special note of Chevron’s role in training Turkmen specialists.[x] A June 2012 meeting between Pryor and Berdymukhamedov lead to speculation that Chevron is a front-runner for involvement with the “TAPI” pipeline, which will run from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India.[xi]
Chevron reportedly lost interest in the project in 2015, after Turkmenistan “refused to offer equity stake in its gas fields,” according to the Economic Times.[xii]
Chevron was one of the gold sponsors of the 2010 Turkmenistan International Oil and Gas Conference, was the only platinum sponsor of the 2011Turkmenistan Gas Conference, and was a gold sponsor of the 2012 Turkmenistan Oil and Gas Conference.[xiii]
Current Scope of Operations
As of 2021, we have found no further updates on the activities of this company in Turkmenistan.
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[i] http://www.newscentralasia.net/News/76.html. Original weblink no longer active.
[ii] Pryor, Jay. Vice President, Corporate Business Development, Chevron Corporation, “Partnering and Technology for Turkmenistan and Beyond,” Oil & Gas in Turkmenistan Conference, April 17, 2008, http://www.chevron.com/news/speeches/release/?id=2008-04-17-jpryor. Original weblink no longer active.
[iii] Chevron (November 2008).
[iv] Gurt, Marat. “Chevron in Talks with Turkmenistan over Gas Field,” Reuters, November 18, 2009, http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/11/18/chevron-turkmenistan-idUSLI9662520091118. Original weblink no longer active.
[v] USAID, “USAID, Chevron, and Junior Achievement Train Specialists on the Development of Turkmenistan’s Tourism Industry,” April 21, 2010, http://centralasia.usaid.gov/page.php?page=article-805. Original weblink no longer active.
[vi] Embassy of the United States in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, “USAID and Chevron Support Financial Reforms in Turkmenistan,” June 30, 2010, http://turkmenistan.usembassy.gov/pr20100630.html. Original weblink no longer active.
[vii] Kinman, Michelle. “Is Chevron One Step Closer to “Doing Some Good” in Turkmenistan?,” Global Exchange Chevron Program Blog, August 19, 2010, http://www.globalexchange.org/blogs/peopletopeople/2010/08/19/
is-chevron-one-step-closer-to-%E2%80%9Cdoing-some-good%E2%80%9D-in-turkmenistan-2/. Original weblink no longer active.
[viii] US-Turkmenistan Business Council, “American Business Delegation Announces the First-ever American Business Mission to Turkmenistan,” June 4, 2010, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-states-business-delegation-announces-first-in-history-american-business-mission-to-turkmenistan-95604429.html. Accessed February 18, 2022.
[ix] Bloomberg, “Chevron, Conoco, Bush brother’s Company May Get Caspian Exploration Rights,” August 13, 2010, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-13/chevron-conoco-bush-brother-s-company-may-get-caspian-exploration-rights.html. Accessed February 18, 2022.
[x] Trend-AZ, “Chevron Offers Turkmenistan its Share in Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Processing and Transportation,” September 20, 2010, http://en.trend.az/capital/pengineering/1753461.html. Accessed February 18, 2022.
[xi] Eurasianet, “Chevron Keeps Knocking at Turkmenistan’s Door,” Sifting the Karakum, http://www.eurasianet.org/node/65574. Accessed February 18, 2022.
[xii] Choudhary, Sanjeev. The Economic Times, “After Chevron, ExxonMobil lose interest; private energy firm to head consortium to build India’s gas pipeline,” https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/after-chevron-exxonmobil-lose-interest-private-energy-firm-to-head-consortium-to-build-indias-gas-pipeline/articleshow/46763964.cms?from=mdr, April 1, 2015. Accessed December 7, 2021.
[xiii] 17th Turkmenistan Oil and Gas Conference, “Sponsors,” 2012 Turkmenistan Oil and Gas Conference; http://www.oilgasturkmenistan.com/sponsors. Original weblink no longer active.