Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Aug. 5
By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:
The prospects for energy cooperation between Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan were discussed Aug. 5 during the official visit of Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov to this country, said the message from the Turkmen government.
During the expanded meeting, it was noted that Turkmenistan regards Kyrgyzstan as a strategic partner in constructing pipelines towards the east, according to the message.
"In this regard, great importance is attached to the implementation of the project for constructing new Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan-China gas pipeline," said the government message.
The two countries are involved in a large project for delivering gas to China from Central Asia, first of all from Turkmenistan. Beijing has a long-term agreement with Ashgabat on increasing the gas supply to 65 billion cubic meters by 2020.
China National Petroleum Corporation has started purchasing gas from this region since 2009 after the commissioning of first two branches (A and B) from Turkmenistan through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The third branch (C) running on this route has been commissioned recently.
Currently, work is underway to construct the additional fourth branch (D) on the new route through Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Edited by CN