Turkmenistan considers the option of shipping natural gas to the Eastern European clientele through Russia, Myrat Archayev, chief executive of state energy firm Turkmengaz, revealed at an energy conference, organized on November 2, in Ashgabat. However, the official did not specify whether any deliberations with Moscow were underway on the issue.
‘’We have a working system of pipelines running in the northern direction through which Turkmenistan historically exported natural gas to Russia and other CIS countries,’’ Mr. Archayev explained. ‘’If mutually acceptable agreements are achieved with buyers and transit countries, this existing pipeline can be used to ship natural gas from Turkmenistan to CIS countries and Eastern Europe,’’ he continued.
Turkmenistan’s suggestion clearly implies that Russia can now serve as a transit corridor for Turkmen gas towards Eastern Europe, given that Gazprom has formally suspended purchases of natural gas from Ashgabat altogether, seeking some $5bn in reimbursements from Turkmengaz for gas supplied between 2010-2015. In addition, if implemented, this project will doom to failure the long-discussed Trans Caspian Pipeline, the sole way for the EU to ensure its access to Turkmen, and possibly Kazakh, energy, bypassing both Russia and Iran.
Available online at: http://www.caspianpolicy.org/energy/caspian-energy-insight-november-8-2017/#6
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