Krishna's visit to Turkmenistan comes close on the heels of a uranium supply deal India signed with Mongolia Monday.

The discussions in Turkmenistan will focus on intensifying cooperation in hydrocarbon sector.

Krishna's talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in-charge of Oil and Gas sector Baymyrat Hojamuhammedov is expected to set the stage for substantive gas deals between the two countries. The two sides will also exchange ideas on reviving the proposed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline which has been languishing for some time.

Turkmenistan produces roughly 60 billion cubic metres of natural gas each year. About two-thirds of gas exports go to Russia's state-run Gazprom.

Turkmenistan, one of the most ethnically homogeneous former Soviet republics, is now diversifying its gas exports. It is building a major gas pipeline to China, and is considering taking part in the EU-backed Nabucco pipeline.