ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 8. Turkmenistan
will build a new modern settlement in the Imambaba rural council
area of the Yoloten district in the Mary region, in proximity to
the Galkynysh gas field to ensure logistical accessibility to the
field and surrounding industrial facilities, Trend reports via the press
service of the Turkmen Government.


The corresponding decree was signed by President of Turkmenistan
Serdar Berdimuhamedov in line with the National Program of
Socio-Economic Development of Turkmenistan for 2022-2052.


The decision comes amid preparations for expanded industrial
activity at the Galkynysh field, where China National Petroleum
Corporation (CNPC) is expected to start the development works. The
upcoming large-scale operations are expected to significantly
increase workforce activity at the site.


Given the remote desert location of the field and the
anticipated growth in personnel involved in extraction and related
services, the new settlement is intended to provide housing and
basic infrastructure support for workers operating in the area, as
it is meant to be in accordance with the national program for
socio-economic development, which focuses on regional
infrastructure development, improvement of living standards across
the country.







Under the decree, construction will be carried out in stages
between 2026 and 2030. The Ministry of Construction and
Architecture is tasked with preparing a master plan within three
months and establishing a dedicated body to oversee implementation
and construction works.


For reference, the Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan’s Mary
Province is one of the largest onshore natural gas deposits in the
world. Discovered in 2006, the field has estimated in-place gas
resources of up to around 27.4 trillion cubic metres, including
adjacent deposits, and is a cornerstone of the country’s energy
sector. Production at Galkynysh began in the early 2010s, with
initial facilities coming online around 2013. The field’s
development is central to Turkmenistan’s strategy to expand gas
output and infrastructure, and it has been linked to major export
initiatives such as the proposed
Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline.