RWE Dea has been awarded a concession to explore and develop Licence Block 23 in the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan. An agreement to this end was signed today by Dr. Jürgen Großmann, CEO of RWE AG, and Dr. Georg Schöning, CEO of RWE Dea AG, with the Turkmenian State President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow in Turkmenbashi.

Jürgen Großmann said, “Turkmenistan plays an important role in securing Europe’s energy supply. RWE and Turkmenistan have been cooperating closely for some time, and we are pleased to be able to further extend our long-term energy partnership.” In April this year, Yagshigeldy Kakayev, Chairman of the State Agency for the Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources of Turkmenistan, and Jürgen Großmann had signed a framework agreement to that effect.

“With our commitment in Turkmenistan, we plan to make a further contribution towards realising our growth targets, especially with regard to gas production,” Georg Schöning explained. Licence Block 23 is located in the south-eastern region of the Caspian Sea, immediately off the Turkmenian coast. The licence area comprises about 940 square kilometres. In the initial exploration phase, first of all an environmental study is planned to be carried out. Taking account of 2D material already available, a 3D seismic test is then to be conducted across an area 400 square kilometres in size. In the process, RWE Dea will rely on its extensive experience in the field of shallow-water development. The company has been operating the Mittelplate drilling and production island in Schleswig-Holstein’s Wattenmeer tidelands, a nature reserve, incident-free for almost 22 years now. In addition, an exploration well is to be drilled once the seismic testing has been completed.

(RWE Dea Press Release)