A major engineering contract valued at $4.6 billion has been awarded to China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation for work on one of Central Asia’s largest gas developments in Turkmenistan.

The project covers the construction of surface infrastructure linked to the Galkynysh Gas Field, a giant deposit regarded as a cornerstone of the country’s long-term gas production strategy.

Under the agreement, CPECC will execute the engineering and construction of facilities designed to process natural gas from the field. The contract was signed with CNPC Amu Darya Petroleum, the local operating arm of China’s state oil company.

The development is expected to strengthen energy cooperation between Beijing and Ashgabat, as China remains one of the primary destinations for Turkmen gas exports through existing pipeline networks.

Industry observers say the scale of the award highlights the continuing role of Chinese engineering firms in large upstream and midstream projects across Eurasia, particularly in resource-rich nations seeking to expand processing capacity and export readiness.

Galkynysh ranks among the world’s largest gas fields and has been central to Turkmenistan’s efforts to monetise its vast reserves through infrastructure expansion and foreign partnerships.