C. Asia's first gas turbines maintenance center opened in Turkmenistan

ASHGABAT. July 21 (Interfax) - A center for power equipment repair and maintenance was opened in Ashgabat on Wednesday in the presence of Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the Neutral Turkmenistan governmental newspaper said on Thursday.

The new center is Central Asia's only enterprise that can repair and service General Electric gas turbines using advanced technologies, Berdimuhamedov said.

"The center that is being opened today is of great significance to the industry. It is intended to repair the main equipment of powerful energy facilities built in all regions of the country. It will help reduce the time of providing these services and their cost and will also facilitate the training of highly qualified specialists for this sector," the Turkmen president said.

New power generating plants operate throughout Turkmenistan, the implementation of other major projects is continuing in the energy sector, the internal circuit power grid and the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan power line are under construction, the volumes of Turkmen electricity exports are growing and their geography is being diversified, he said.

The power equipment repair and maintenance center, built by the Turkish company Calik Enerji, meets all environmental requirements and uses advanced technologies of the U.S. company General Electric.