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Turkmenistan, EU partnership is mutually beneficial, ministry says

24 June 2015 [10:07] - TODAY.AZ

/By AzerNews/

By Aynur Karimova

The partnership between Turkmenistan and the European Union is likely to be very promising and mutually beneficial given the interests of both sides, Turkmen Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ministry said on June 23.

"Therefore, special attention is paid to the project of construction of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline, which will run under the Caspian Sea from the Turkmen coasts to Azerbaijan. Preliminary environmental studies on the safety of the route have been conducted," the ministry said.

The Trans-Caspian pipeline project, widely regarded as the optimal option to deliver Turkmen gas to European markets, envisages the construction of a roughly 300 kilometer-long gas pipeline under the Caspian to the shores of Azerbaijan, which will then connect to the existing Turkish energy infrastructure with the hope of bringing the gas to Europe.

The negotiations between the EU, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan on the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline began in September 2011. However, Russia and Iran have always spoken out against the pipeline due to ecological issues from the pipeline's construction. The unresolved status of the Caspian Sea has been regarded as the main factor hindering the implementation of the project.

The Trans-Caspian pipeline can be implemented as part of the Southern Gas Corridor, a large project that seeks to transport gas supplies from the Caspian region, Azerbaijan in particular, to Europe.

During the talks in Ashgabat in early May 2015, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey and the European Union agreed to establish a working group at the level of the respective deputy ministers (or equivalent) in charge of energy sector.

Earlier, European Commission Vice President for Energy Union Maros Shefchovich said that Europe intends to create a technical and legal basis for supplying Turkmen gas via Azerbaijan. The EU expects to receive Turkmen gas in 2019.

Turkmenistan produced over 76 billion cubic meters of gas in 2014. Its total exports exceeded 45 billion cubic meters. Turkmenistan plans to produce over 80 billion cubic meters of marketable gas in 2015.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/141660.html

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