Pipeline Deal to be Finalised at Kazak-Turkmen Meeting
Pipeline Deal to be Finalised at Kazak-Turkmen Meeting
On September 11-12, Kazak president Nursultan Nazarbaeev will visit Ashgabat to finalise an agreement with Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov on a new overland gas pipeline which will supply Russia with Turkmen gas via Kazakhstan.
The leaders of Turkmenistan, Kazakstan and Russia agreed to build the pipeline in May. A final technical and economic feasibility study was supposed to be ready by September 1, but failure to agree the volumes of gas to be supplied has put this date back.
Turkmenistan recently given its consent to two other pipelines – one to China and the other across the Caspian Sea, leaving Moscow and Astana nervous about whether there will be enough gas left over to make their route viable.
The leaders of Turkmenistan, Kazakstan and Russia agreed to build the pipeline in May. A final technical and economic feasibility study was supposed to be ready by September 1, but failure to agree the volumes of gas to be supplied has put this date back.
Turkmenistan recently given its consent to two other pipelines – one to China and the other across the Caspian Sea, leaving Moscow and Astana nervous about whether there will be enough gas left over to make their route viable.
