BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 28. Turkmenistan and
South Korea discussed expanding cooperation in the oil refining
sector, including the participation of Korean companies in
modernization and maintenance projects.


This was reflected in the statement published by the Embassy of
the Republic of Korea in Turkmenistan following South Korean
Ambassador to Turkmenistan Lee Won-jae's visit to the Turkmenbashi
Oil Refinery Complex (TORC) on August 26.


According to the information, during the visit, the ambassador
reviewed the operation of the complex’s production facilities and
projects being implemented by Korean companies in Turkmenistan. Lee
Won-jae met with TORC Director Dovran Chishiev and representatives
of Korean companies. The sides discussed bilateral cooperation in
oil refining, as well as ongoing projects involving Korean
companies in Turkmenistan.


"The ambassador expressed appreciation to the complex’s
management for its support for Korean companies and expressed hope
that their participation in TCOR modernization and maintenance
projects would be further expanded," the statement of the embassy
says.







As part of the visit, Lee Won-jae also met with representatives
of Koryo Shipbuilding Industry Technology (KSIT) and Yuhan Tech. He
was briefed on the progress of their projects and discussed their
activities in Turkmenistan.


Diplomatic relations between South Korea and
Turkmenistan were established on 7 February 1992. Over the past
decade, Korean companies have become major partners in
Turkmenistan’s energy and industrial sectors, securing contracts
worth approximately $5–11 billion. Notable projects include
modernization work at the Turkmenbashi Complex of Oil Refineries,
construction of desulfurization facilities at the giant Galkynysh
gas field, the Kiyanly gas-chemical complex, and fertilizer plants.
Firms such as Hyundai Engineering, LG International, and Daewoo
Engineering & Construction have played leading roles. High-level
visits, including the 2024 state visit by South Korean President
Yoon Suk Yeol, have further strengthened cooperation in energy,
infrastructure, shipbuilding, and related fields.